Given the additional benefit of fighting in a city it is annoying to have to give up Delhi but you gotta do what you gotta do I guess.
If only you could get the Indian 3rd Corps HQ back your defenders would do better.
p.s. when was the last time you checked leaders may be worth making sure you have as many decent ones as possible in case you took any casualties in the south.
Andy
Sand in the Vaseline - Wobbly vs PzB
Moderators: wdolson, Don Bowen, mogami
RE: Invasion force attacked
Full steam ahead - he may be able to pull some forces out of the Pacific (since Tarawa has calmed down), but he's fully committed to India with his ground forces. I'd even look to setting a diversionary attack in the Tarawa area, just to keep him thinking twice about stripping his perimeter to get you.
Recon, recon, recon. Once you've landed - keep an eye out for his carriers....
Recon, recon, recon. Once you've landed - keep an eye out for his carriers....
Never Underestimate the Power of a Small Tactical Nuclear Weapon...
RE: Invasion force attacked
Wobbly,
You´re right. India is also important because of the LCU based there. Not to mention the air sqds (I think spits can´t make it). But, also with the fall of India China is toasted. It is already toasted but without India, China will fall earlier.
There is a lot of risk in the Java invasion. If I were PzB I will:
- Attack with my betties and nells heavily escorted. This should reduce your fighters a lot. If his CVs appear it will be afterwards.
- Bomb the north Australian ports to reduce your fuel and supply depots
- Wait until your CVs retire...
By this time India had fallen, so I would start to group my divisions and then
- Attack with BBs CVs and land based bombers until I reduce the place to ashes
- Then land the LCUs and attack your forces..
Java invasion is a real threat for PzB. Fortunately for him it comes when he is still powerful so he can attempt to wipe your forces out. So you have to fight a defensive battle. A defensive one, so he takes more losses than you.
In WW2 turning point always came after a defensive battle (Stalingrad, Kursk, El Alamein, Midway, Guadalcanal...in all of them the allies played a defensive role until they could take the offensive)
You can hold as far as you can send reinforces there, specially fighters and heavies. Be prepared to send them there soon. Remember that you have over-extend your supply and reinforces lines...SF is soooooo far away. On the contrary PzB can group his forces quite fast. This is VERY dangerous.
Good luck wobbly, and forgive me if my posts are too long and boring. [;)]
You´re right. India is also important because of the LCU based there. Not to mention the air sqds (I think spits can´t make it). But, also with the fall of India China is toasted. It is already toasted but without India, China will fall earlier.
There is a lot of risk in the Java invasion. If I were PzB I will:
- Attack with my betties and nells heavily escorted. This should reduce your fighters a lot. If his CVs appear it will be afterwards.
- Bomb the north Australian ports to reduce your fuel and supply depots
- Wait until your CVs retire...
By this time India had fallen, so I would start to group my divisions and then
- Attack with BBs CVs and land based bombers until I reduce the place to ashes
- Then land the LCUs and attack your forces..
Java invasion is a real threat for PzB. Fortunately for him it comes when he is still powerful so he can attempt to wipe your forces out. So you have to fight a defensive battle. A defensive one, so he takes more losses than you.
In WW2 turning point always came after a defensive battle (Stalingrad, Kursk, El Alamein, Midway, Guadalcanal...in all of them the allies played a defensive role until they could take the offensive)
You can hold as far as you can send reinforces there, specially fighters and heavies. Be prepared to send them there soon. Remember that you have over-extend your supply and reinforces lines...SF is soooooo far away. On the contrary PzB can group his forces quite fast. This is VERY dangerous.
Good luck wobbly, and forgive me if my posts are too long and boring. [;)]
RE: Invasion force attacked
Andy - It is mighty annoying - he has bought so much power though that I really don't have the option of splitting my defense. It is the fact I have tried that has caused most of my problems! I really need to get as much back to Ahlamabad as possible to try and stop him there. Then I may have some time to reorganise the defenses again.
Paulus - I am so going to have to watch out for the dreaded Jap Carriers. Search ACs will need to get there ASAP.
Toraq - you are not boring - a little negative - but not boring. There is no way this little venture is not going to be completed without a little pain. If it is alot of pain then it wasn't worth it - the benefit of 20-20 hindsight. There is an important reason the japs didn't try and take over India (other than the likelihood of many militia units), it is the the number of troops such an operation would need to be taken away from the obvious enemy - the US. Even if his naval bombers manage to hammer a couple of Carriers and a BB. If I get the troops down in Java he is going to be outnumbered on the land. I can't imagine he has more than a Mixed Brigade plus base units there - that may change in a hurry - but he is heavily focused on India (man don't I know it).
Your hypothesis that he will only finish the Indian campaign and then come and toast me in Java is probably true but missing the point. The reason for the Java invasion was to try and stem the flow of reinforcements to India and even to bring units tasked to that campaign back to Java - I needed to relieve the pressure. I had no control about when - he dictated that - if I had a choice this invasion would be occuring in mid 43 - I don't unfortunately. So yes he is still in the ascendent and I am going to feel some pain. I just hope that the pain has been diverted from a likely Indian target! In all truth this is very unlikely, he can unfortunately, afford to weather any storm I point at him from Java bases for some time. Probably enough time to still take India. But missions based in Java with targets in India will now have a whole lot less distance to travel and that will worry him.
You also bring my line of supply into question - this is the best and most valid point for me in your post. Ultimately everything except Oz and Kiwi units are coming from the US - that is a long way. However there really is quite alot in Oz already. 4 Divisions are available for instance. I have 900 ACs in Darwin as well (plus about 200 more in Derby and co)!!!! yep if he bombs there that will really hurt but 400 are fighters and they are all at 50% CAP (alot are rubbish but the deterrent factor and the range from Kendari - the only base he can really use - is prohibitive). That is also why the B-17s visited this turn... But I don't think he will bomb Darwin now. Everything will be set to anti-naval.
I suppose the real question to you is: faced with the complete destruction of your command in India - what would you do?
Paulus - I am so going to have to watch out for the dreaded Jap Carriers. Search ACs will need to get there ASAP.
Toraq - you are not boring - a little negative - but not boring. There is no way this little venture is not going to be completed without a little pain. If it is alot of pain then it wasn't worth it - the benefit of 20-20 hindsight. There is an important reason the japs didn't try and take over India (other than the likelihood of many militia units), it is the the number of troops such an operation would need to be taken away from the obvious enemy - the US. Even if his naval bombers manage to hammer a couple of Carriers and a BB. If I get the troops down in Java he is going to be outnumbered on the land. I can't imagine he has more than a Mixed Brigade plus base units there - that may change in a hurry - but he is heavily focused on India (man don't I know it).
Your hypothesis that he will only finish the Indian campaign and then come and toast me in Java is probably true but missing the point. The reason for the Java invasion was to try and stem the flow of reinforcements to India and even to bring units tasked to that campaign back to Java - I needed to relieve the pressure. I had no control about when - he dictated that - if I had a choice this invasion would be occuring in mid 43 - I don't unfortunately. So yes he is still in the ascendent and I am going to feel some pain. I just hope that the pain has been diverted from a likely Indian target! In all truth this is very unlikely, he can unfortunately, afford to weather any storm I point at him from Java bases for some time. Probably enough time to still take India. But missions based in Java with targets in India will now have a whole lot less distance to travel and that will worry him.
You also bring my line of supply into question - this is the best and most valid point for me in your post. Ultimately everything except Oz and Kiwi units are coming from the US - that is a long way. However there really is quite alot in Oz already. 4 Divisions are available for instance. I have 900 ACs in Darwin as well (plus about 200 more in Derby and co)!!!! yep if he bombs there that will really hurt but 400 are fighters and they are all at 50% CAP (alot are rubbish but the deterrent factor and the range from Kendari - the only base he can really use - is prohibitive). That is also why the B-17s visited this turn... But I don't think he will bomb Darwin now. Everything will be set to anti-naval.
I suppose the real question to you is: faced with the complete destruction of your command in India - what would you do?
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RE: Invasion force attacked
Exactly what you are doing: hit him someplace that he can't ignore. You now have a temporary advantage; you know what is happening at Java, while he can only guess and scramble to react to developments there. Your best (or maybe even only--hate to say it but it isn't far wrong) hope is that he reacts into a big mistake.I suppose the real question to you is: faced with the complete destruction of your command in India - what would you do?
Fear the kitten!
RE: Invasion force attacked
Making him react to you is better than continuing to react to his moves....anything he throws at you will be, for lack of a better term, improvised. If you can stay the course & continue to feed units into the fray, you will eventually break his back (logistically & hopefully his fleet).
If you are as serious as you should be with this operation, you should already have forces moving from far and wide to continue to funnel through into Java.
If you are as serious as you should be with this operation, you should already have forces moving from far and wide to continue to funnel through into Java.
Never Underestimate the Power of a Small Tactical Nuclear Weapon...
RE: Invasion force attacked
ORIGINAL: paullus99
Making him react to you is better than continuing to react to his moves....anything he throws at you will be, for lack of a better term, improvised. If you can stay the course & continue to feed units into the fray, you will eventually break his back (logistically & hopefully his fleet).
If you are as serious as you should be with this operation, you should already have forces moving from far and wide to continue to funnel through into Java.
It's called taking the initiative.. let's just hope that wobbly can keep it
Surface combat TF fanboy
RE: Invasion force attacked
This is definitely my fave AAR. There are some real game shaking decisions going on on this one. [;)]
The decision to attack India, the Allied decision to strike at Java... Good stuff.
I find it very hard in the game I'm playing to see the wood for the trees, and try and have some sort of overall strategy rather than being concerned with minutiae of day to day tactics. [:(]
The decision to attack India, the Allied decision to strike at Java... Good stuff.
I find it very hard in the game I'm playing to see the wood for the trees, and try and have some sort of overall strategy rather than being concerned with minutiae of day to day tactics. [:(]
RE: Invasion force attacked
I suppose the real question to you is: faced with the complete destruction of your command in India - what would you do?
Well Wobbly, that´s why I said "forgive me". Maybe I´m too critic saying "you should do this or that" and you may think "Here is toraq again" [>:]. Far from that, wobbly[:'(]
I probably try to save India as I said a few post ago...but I don´t know the REAL situation in India, so maybe my opinion would cahnge after that.
But if I saw that India is lost irremediable, I would probably do what you´re doing. But send more troops and supplies there...it may take some time until they arrive but send them anyway. Be prepare for his reaction because there it goes your game (with auto-victory conditions)
Good luck again![;)]
RE: Invasion force attacked
His main defense in the short run will be his LBA, unless he has a TF or two based near Java (which I doubt) I suggest you pay his airfields a visit with a couple of bombing missions. LBA can be flown in quickly, so before you know it he will have a shitload of Zeros and bomber in the area.
RE: Invasion force attacked
Also, have you made any plans for actualy reinforcing India? From this POW it looks suicidal, but why not ask. Is there any chance of saving the day up there? Come to think of it, it sounds just too proposterous with KB intact, but... Supplies you don't need, so it would have to be troop transports and that's impossible at the moment. What are the chances of a prolonged fighting retreat and can it buy enough time for rescue to arrive?Anyhow, his is a stricktly WHAT IF scenario. Something that might come in handy later on.
WARNING: do not use before succesfull Java campaign and major KB trashing!
WARNING: do not use before succesfull Java campaign and major KB trashing!
RE: Invasion force attacked
ORIGINAL: Honda
Also, have you made any plans for actualy reinforcing India? From this POW it looks suicidal, but why not ask. Is there any chance of saving the day up there? Come to think of it, it sounds just too proposterous with KB intact, but... Supplies you don't need, so it would have to be troop transports and that's impossible at the moment. What are the chances of a prolonged fighting retreat and can it buy enough time for rescue to arrive?Anyhow, his is a stricktly WHAT IF scenario. Something that might come in handy later on.
WARNING: do not use before succesfull Java campaign and major KB trashing!
Actually KB isn't intact. Hiryu and Soryu lie in the bottom of the sea somewhere between canton and fiji iirc.
Surface combat TF fanboy
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Terminus Est
- Posts: 12
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RE: Invasion force attacked
ORIGINAL: String
Actually KB isn't intact. Hiryu and Soryu lie in the bottom of the sea somewhere between canton and fiji iirc.
You're right, String ... so KB only has 4 out of 6 original fleet carriers
Who IS General Failure, and why is he reading my disk?
Operation Retribution
Breaking News "Invasion of Java has commenced"!! Troops started landing at Madoien and Waingapu (Island in the Indinesian chain down towards Oz). Sorry about the change of destination reported - I was forced further north by the way TFs had stopped for refueling.
Honda - yes, if I take java then there is the possibility of troop transport to india. It is as you say a very dangerous proposition. Lets just see how this invasion comes off first.
KB has lost Hiryu and Soryu and gained about 4 of the little CVs by now I would think - Junyo et al. So it will have grown back to ugly dimensions.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/24/42
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TF 1082 troops unloading over beach at Waingapu, 27,74
Allied ground losses:
118 casualties reported
Units of Sparrow force have landed here and the base unit tasked with making a stepping stone to Java lands tonight. If PzB really wants to scupper my plans he will land units here using his transport planes.
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Naval bombardment of Madioen, at 21,64
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
H8K Emily: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged
Ki-57-II Topsy: 10 destroyed, 20 damaged
Ki-46-II Dinah: 7 destroyed, 3 damaged
L2D2 Tabby: 4 destroyed, 3 damaged
Allied Ships
CA Vincennes
CA Astoria
CA Indianapolis
CA Louisville
CA Chester
CA Chicago
DD Voyager
DD Litchfield
DD Dale
DD Porter
DD Lamson
DD Drayton
DD Blue
CL Sumatra
CL Java
CA Pensacola
CA Portland
Japanese ground losses:
959 casualties reported (now he knows what it is like to recieve bombardment hell)
Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 8
Runway hits 36
It will be difficult to fly in troops without transport planes. 24 planes were destroyed in the bombardment today - that's another 100 points he needs to make up. As an interim piece of info, with all major bases in India bar Karachi under his sway he now has 2000 or so points to get past 4-1.
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TF 1008 troops unloading over beach at Madioen, 21,64
Allied ground losses:
438 casualties reported
The beginning of the liberation operation. This operation was never named - it will henceforth be labeled "Retribution" (hope that doesn't blow up in my face too much). So far only an RCT, the tank company and the marine raiders have come ashore here.
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Ground combat at Lucknow
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 48614 troops, 295 guns, 290 vehicles
Defending force 24226 troops, 171 guns, 1 vehicles
Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 5)
Japanese ground losses:
441 casualties reported
Guns lost 13
Vehicles lost 1
Allied ground losses:
655 casualties reported
Guns lost 17
At Lucknow he puts in his first effort to take the place. I loose more troops than his but the forts keep his effort at 0-1. I imagine that this turn he will turn the full power of his bombers on Lucknow. Expecting this I suddenly move back 2 sqds of Hurricanes and the Spitfires. As an addendum here - I now have a second upgraded sqd to Spitfire Vbs.
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Ground combat at Benares
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 882 troops, 0 guns, 61 vehicles
Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles
Japanese assault odds: 10 to 1 (fort level 3)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Benares base !!!
Benares - my base for incoming troops from Dimapur at last falls.
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Retribution has started well - although in the next turn I imagine I will feel some heavy retirbution of my own. Palembang, Balikpapan and Batavia are all showing the deep red colour of many ACs. Batavia is the main problem - the range is short.
Further steps in retribution unfold as follows. The carriers move one more hex north and the invasion proper actually begins - the taking of Tjilitap. The majority of the units are landing here. Back at Madoien the 2nd Marines are also landing. They are doing so under the guns of the Mississippi, New Mexico and Tennessee who take over from the cruiser force that bombarded last night. The portion of units already landed are attacking in the next turn - this could be considered unwise but I want to get a base very quickly to stop damage to the units unloading.
The Cruiser force now moves up to Tjilitap as a target and AAA magnet for the Tsunami which must be about ready to roll.
The Carriers now have 3 jobs and that really is one too many. They have to CAP themselves - 3 sqds Wildcats. CAP Tjilitap - 1 Sqd Wildcats and 1 of Fulmars and CAP Madoein - 1 sqd of Wildcats. I expect to take losses this next turn - he must be about ready...
The Madoien invasion will at least have unloaded the lion share of its troops by sun up so that is why the Tjilitap units are getting more CAP. The carriers are also 1 hex below Tjilitap so CAP above the carriers may jump across to the new invasion.
I am mightily worried about Batavia - initial plans were to bombard the place - that is actually impossible with the BBs: they are too slow. It is up to the cruisers and I have already depleted their ammo - fun fun fun!
About 12 hexes out from the invasion I have placed some of the damaged and limping AKs from the big exodus. They are acting as trip wires for enemy carriers.
Air Units in Oz are ready to start hopping North to defend the landings and start bombing his airfields and resource locations.
OK - India of course has not gone away. I've had another trail AI brain explosion and I am likely to loose a 100 assault point Indian unit - it moves to one of the worst locations in central India. I wont see it for another 30 days if I get to see it at all.
The Indian 3rd Hq may yet get out, it is 45 miles towards Lucknow. Along with this good turn of events the BFF - now rated at 155 assault points has been moved in its entirety to Lucknow. It also may make it north. It appears that PzB is heavily moving on Ahlamabad rather than Delhi. This may mean I get to keep Delhi for longer and get more Indian troops back into the pocket. He has moved a tank unit towards Delhi but that is not going to be enough to get through.
The bombers are all lined up to start harrassing his advancing units. The enemy are getting closer to their targets - which means they are getting closer to my bombers. Time to make their lives hell. I have set the B-17s up to hit Bombay and its airfields but they continue to refuse to fly.
I am trying a bit of fancy footwork by Asansol. A large group of units are E of Asnasol. PzB has reinforced Asansol. That is not my target but I am going to move there eventually but not to attempt to take it. Instead the units in this group are going to cross the river to the spot below Asansol. They will then move north into Asansol accept the tank unit which will move to the hex to the SW of Asansol and from there N back onto the rail line W of Asansol (if that makes any sense). What I am trying to achieve is a break out of the forces in Northern Burma to Northern India. If the tank unit can get to the rail location W of Asansol the units in Asansol can move up the northern rail line (getting around the no move rule from an enemy held location to another enemy held location).
In China I may actually be surrounding some of his more advanced units. I am going to try and destroy them (this is on the trail from Chungking to Sian). Out to the West I am also trying another flanking move - more on that as it gets closer.
Mandalay is now fully manned with Chinese. He will move his units in here and commence bombing the crap out of me. The Chinese units refuse to increase morale and that is a killer. How long can they hold even if they do have size 4 forts?
In Perth many of the escaped AKs join together and head towards San Fran. In karachi more try and take on this trek. Rather than a mass exodus I am trying to do this in smaller groups this time though.
Honda - yes, if I take java then there is the possibility of troop transport to india. It is as you say a very dangerous proposition. Lets just see how this invasion comes off first.
KB has lost Hiryu and Soryu and gained about 4 of the little CVs by now I would think - Junyo et al. So it will have grown back to ugly dimensions.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/24/42
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TF 1082 troops unloading over beach at Waingapu, 27,74
Allied ground losses:
118 casualties reported
Units of Sparrow force have landed here and the base unit tasked with making a stepping stone to Java lands tonight. If PzB really wants to scupper my plans he will land units here using his transport planes.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Madioen, at 21,64
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
H8K Emily: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged
Ki-57-II Topsy: 10 destroyed, 20 damaged
Ki-46-II Dinah: 7 destroyed, 3 damaged
L2D2 Tabby: 4 destroyed, 3 damaged
Allied Ships
CA Vincennes
CA Astoria
CA Indianapolis
CA Louisville
CA Chester
CA Chicago
DD Voyager
DD Litchfield
DD Dale
DD Porter
DD Lamson
DD Drayton
DD Blue
CL Sumatra
CL Java
CA Pensacola
CA Portland
Japanese ground losses:
959 casualties reported (now he knows what it is like to recieve bombardment hell)
Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 8
Runway hits 36
It will be difficult to fly in troops without transport planes. 24 planes were destroyed in the bombardment today - that's another 100 points he needs to make up. As an interim piece of info, with all major bases in India bar Karachi under his sway he now has 2000 or so points to get past 4-1.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1008 troops unloading over beach at Madioen, 21,64
Allied ground losses:
438 casualties reported
The beginning of the liberation operation. This operation was never named - it will henceforth be labeled "Retribution" (hope that doesn't blow up in my face too much). So far only an RCT, the tank company and the marine raiders have come ashore here.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Lucknow
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 48614 troops, 295 guns, 290 vehicles
Defending force 24226 troops, 171 guns, 1 vehicles
Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 5)
Japanese ground losses:
441 casualties reported
Guns lost 13
Vehicles lost 1
Allied ground losses:
655 casualties reported
Guns lost 17
At Lucknow he puts in his first effort to take the place. I loose more troops than his but the forts keep his effort at 0-1. I imagine that this turn he will turn the full power of his bombers on Lucknow. Expecting this I suddenly move back 2 sqds of Hurricanes and the Spitfires. As an addendum here - I now have a second upgraded sqd to Spitfire Vbs.
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Ground combat at Benares
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 882 troops, 0 guns, 61 vehicles
Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles
Japanese assault odds: 10 to 1 (fort level 3)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Benares base !!!
Benares - my base for incoming troops from Dimapur at last falls.
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Retribution has started well - although in the next turn I imagine I will feel some heavy retirbution of my own. Palembang, Balikpapan and Batavia are all showing the deep red colour of many ACs. Batavia is the main problem - the range is short.
Further steps in retribution unfold as follows. The carriers move one more hex north and the invasion proper actually begins - the taking of Tjilitap. The majority of the units are landing here. Back at Madoien the 2nd Marines are also landing. They are doing so under the guns of the Mississippi, New Mexico and Tennessee who take over from the cruiser force that bombarded last night. The portion of units already landed are attacking in the next turn - this could be considered unwise but I want to get a base very quickly to stop damage to the units unloading.
The Cruiser force now moves up to Tjilitap as a target and AAA magnet for the Tsunami which must be about ready to roll.
The Carriers now have 3 jobs and that really is one too many. They have to CAP themselves - 3 sqds Wildcats. CAP Tjilitap - 1 Sqd Wildcats and 1 of Fulmars and CAP Madoein - 1 sqd of Wildcats. I expect to take losses this next turn - he must be about ready...
The Madoien invasion will at least have unloaded the lion share of its troops by sun up so that is why the Tjilitap units are getting more CAP. The carriers are also 1 hex below Tjilitap so CAP above the carriers may jump across to the new invasion.
I am mightily worried about Batavia - initial plans were to bombard the place - that is actually impossible with the BBs: they are too slow. It is up to the cruisers and I have already depleted their ammo - fun fun fun!
About 12 hexes out from the invasion I have placed some of the damaged and limping AKs from the big exodus. They are acting as trip wires for enemy carriers.
Air Units in Oz are ready to start hopping North to defend the landings and start bombing his airfields and resource locations.
OK - India of course has not gone away. I've had another trail AI brain explosion and I am likely to loose a 100 assault point Indian unit - it moves to one of the worst locations in central India. I wont see it for another 30 days if I get to see it at all.
The Indian 3rd Hq may yet get out, it is 45 miles towards Lucknow. Along with this good turn of events the BFF - now rated at 155 assault points has been moved in its entirety to Lucknow. It also may make it north. It appears that PzB is heavily moving on Ahlamabad rather than Delhi. This may mean I get to keep Delhi for longer and get more Indian troops back into the pocket. He has moved a tank unit towards Delhi but that is not going to be enough to get through.
The bombers are all lined up to start harrassing his advancing units. The enemy are getting closer to their targets - which means they are getting closer to my bombers. Time to make their lives hell. I have set the B-17s up to hit Bombay and its airfields but they continue to refuse to fly.
I am trying a bit of fancy footwork by Asansol. A large group of units are E of Asnasol. PzB has reinforced Asansol. That is not my target but I am going to move there eventually but not to attempt to take it. Instead the units in this group are going to cross the river to the spot below Asansol. They will then move north into Asansol accept the tank unit which will move to the hex to the SW of Asansol and from there N back onto the rail line W of Asansol (if that makes any sense). What I am trying to achieve is a break out of the forces in Northern Burma to Northern India. If the tank unit can get to the rail location W of Asansol the units in Asansol can move up the northern rail line (getting around the no move rule from an enemy held location to another enemy held location).
In China I may actually be surrounding some of his more advanced units. I am going to try and destroy them (this is on the trail from Chungking to Sian). Out to the West I am also trying another flanking move - more on that as it gets closer.
Mandalay is now fully manned with Chinese. He will move his units in here and commence bombing the crap out of me. The Chinese units refuse to increase morale and that is a killer. How long can they hold even if they do have size 4 forts?
In Perth many of the escaped AKs join together and head towards San Fran. In karachi more try and take on this trek. Rather than a mass exodus I am trying to do this in smaller groups this time though.
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RE: Operation Retribution
I continue to follow your AAR with a mixture of excitement,anticipation and dread !
My own game vs the japanese ai has just got to 2 july 42 and I note that the usa carrier fighter squadrons increase in size from 27 to 36 planes. This is a significant jump and it would help your air cover no-end. Try to put the carriers in port with sufficient supply on that date to get the increase.
How much supply have you got following up the java invasion ? Darwin is a devil to keep in high supply so I hope you have plenty on board transports. Otherwise your massed armies and airforce in java will soon be going hungry.
Sending ships out of karachi to escape will surely be easier now. The japanese carriers have got better things to do now than chase those ships. Stick to map edges. Get all the merchants out now - it is not as if they are useful in india now. Perhaps send prince of wales as well ? It is too badly damaged to fight. Also if you are short of air engineers perhaps send out a couple of british units - do you need them all in india ?
Good luck against betty nell and zero - you are going to need it I think !
My own game vs the japanese ai has just got to 2 july 42 and I note that the usa carrier fighter squadrons increase in size from 27 to 36 planes. This is a significant jump and it would help your air cover no-end. Try to put the carriers in port with sufficient supply on that date to get the increase.
How much supply have you got following up the java invasion ? Darwin is a devil to keep in high supply so I hope you have plenty on board transports. Otherwise your massed armies and airforce in java will soon be going hungry.
Sending ships out of karachi to escape will surely be easier now. The japanese carriers have got better things to do now than chase those ships. Stick to map edges. Get all the merchants out now - it is not as if they are useful in india now. Perhaps send prince of wales as well ? It is too badly damaged to fight. Also if you are short of air engineers perhaps send out a couple of british units - do you need them all in india ?
Good luck against betty nell and zero - you are going to need it I think !
Formidable wears a torpedo
Retribution continues on schedule.
Ascidicus - thanks for the words of encouragement. really that goes for all of you that have done so. To answer your questions. There are about 45K of supplies on the main transports and another 12K at Madoien. I doubt there is too much in Java itself but once you hold Batavia and Soerbaja you will get more.
I don't want to give up on the Brits just yet. This whole escapade is to give them a chance!!
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/25/42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied ground losses:
410 casualties reported
Allied ground losses:
44 casualties reported
Allied ground losses:
526 casualties reported
Allied ground losses:
3740 casualties reported
Allied ground losses:
448 casualties reported
Allied ground losses:
72 casualties reported
Allied ground losses:
603 casualties reported
Allied ground losses:
2533 casualties reported
Now that folks is the pain you go through unloading at beaches when you haven't sorted out your men to attack them. That is a pretty heavy buchers bill for the beginning of the invasion - D-Day probably did better. Due to these losses unloading is stopped this turn - the units on the ground can take the bases and I can then get ACs in to continue covering the landings and releasing the carriers to roam less restrictedly.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 19,63
Japanese Ships
SS I-165
Allied Ships
CV Formidable, Torpedo hits 1
DD Pakenham
DD Norman
DD Inconstant
DD Electra
Now tis is where having subs that decide to shoot is a great boon. FOrmidable is a very tough campaigner though and she is Sys 7 float 20 fires 3. She'll be fine baring more damage.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Madioen, at 21,64
Allied Ships
DD Fox
DD Allen
DD Farragut
DD Walke
CL Leander
BB Mississippi
BB New Mexico
BB Tennessee
Japanese ground losses:
105 casualties reported
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 6
Port supply hits 3
The heavies continue to hit the beach at Madioen but there is little in the way of targets left so they are somewhat useless.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Bombay , at 20,10
Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 23
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
49 casualties reported
Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 19
At last my bombers come out to play and they manage to put a few holes in teh airfield in Bombay. It wont be down for much longer though.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 56th Division, at 23,10
Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 20
Blenheim IV x 8
Hudson I x 10
Beaufort I x 7
Beaufort V-IX x 34
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
66 casualties reported
Guns lost 4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 55th/B Division, at 24,11
Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 49
P-40E Warhawk x 19
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
126 casualties reported
Guns lost 6
Vehicles lost 1
Harrassment of his land forces starts again in earnest.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Merak at 18,59
Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 51
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
AV Kimikawa Maru, Bomb hits 15, on fire, heavy damage
AND then - out of the blue my dauntlesses decide to launch. Well they have been on naval attack haven't they. Kimikawa Maru is blown out of the water.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 20,59
Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 34
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
AK Muroran Maru, Bomb hits 2
MSW Rikusen Maru, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)
DD Fuyo, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)
They then find some more transports leaving Batavia - he is trying to get defenders in - I need to stop this but not with unescorted Dauntless raids. I reduce the range on these guys to 3.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Pagan
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 3085 troops, 10 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles
Japanese assault odds: 144 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Pagan base !!!
Pagan, below Mandalay, is lost again and this time it will stay captured for some time I imagine.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Lucknow
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 39001 troops, 285 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 28340 troops, 163 guns, 2 vehicles
Allied ground losses:
59 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Lucknow is reduced to bombardment. I join in this time with my units bombarding as well
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 23,10
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 23252 troops, 265 guns, 3 vehicles
Defending force 420 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles
Japanese assault odds: 348 to 1
Allied ground losses:
186 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
Defeated Allied Units Retreating!
A speed bump South of Ahlamabad is brushed aside.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Waingapu
Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 458 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles
Allied assault odds: 46 to 1 (fort level 0)
Allied forces CAPTURE Waingapu base !!!
Thank the lord. He does not load the place with air transported troops and now it is groaning under the weight of 70 P-40Es and 16 SBDs.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well I have suffered the first damage of the invasion to the Formidable but she will survive that one. I fear this next turn will be a horror. If not then the chances of survival will increase markedly. 70 Warhawks and 32 Kittyhawks will arrive in Tjilitap and then the flow will just get heavier.
Both locations are being attacked this turn by the ground troops - hopefully it is enough.
At Madoien many of the ships are now empty and a TF leaves the scene. Its defenders go together to make up an ASW group and they try and track down this errant sub.
No sign as yet of Carriers.
In india things are starting to look a little better with his move on Ahlamabad. I am at 71% level 4 forts and I think I might get most of the way to 5 by the time he gets there. He must have stolen alot of Zeros from India for Java and therefore I may be able to damage his troops significantly before they get into position against the defenders of Ahlamabad. 5 days until Chindits.
Ascidicus - thanks for the words of encouragement. really that goes for all of you that have done so. To answer your questions. There are about 45K of supplies on the main transports and another 12K at Madoien. I doubt there is too much in Java itself but once you hold Batavia and Soerbaja you will get more.
I don't want to give up on the Brits just yet. This whole escapade is to give them a chance!!
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/25/42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied ground losses:
410 casualties reported
Allied ground losses:
44 casualties reported
Allied ground losses:
526 casualties reported
Allied ground losses:
3740 casualties reported
Allied ground losses:
448 casualties reported
Allied ground losses:
72 casualties reported
Allied ground losses:
603 casualties reported
Allied ground losses:
2533 casualties reported
Now that folks is the pain you go through unloading at beaches when you haven't sorted out your men to attack them. That is a pretty heavy buchers bill for the beginning of the invasion - D-Day probably did better. Due to these losses unloading is stopped this turn - the units on the ground can take the bases and I can then get ACs in to continue covering the landings and releasing the carriers to roam less restrictedly.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 19,63
Japanese Ships
SS I-165
Allied Ships
CV Formidable, Torpedo hits 1
DD Pakenham
DD Norman
DD Inconstant
DD Electra
Now tis is where having subs that decide to shoot is a great boon. FOrmidable is a very tough campaigner though and she is Sys 7 float 20 fires 3. She'll be fine baring more damage.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Madioen, at 21,64
Allied Ships
DD Fox
DD Allen
DD Farragut
DD Walke
CL Leander
BB Mississippi
BB New Mexico
BB Tennessee
Japanese ground losses:
105 casualties reported
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 6
Port supply hits 3
The heavies continue to hit the beach at Madioen but there is little in the way of targets left so they are somewhat useless.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Bombay , at 20,10
Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 23
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
49 casualties reported
Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 19
At last my bombers come out to play and they manage to put a few holes in teh airfield in Bombay. It wont be down for much longer though.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 56th Division, at 23,10
Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 20
Blenheim IV x 8
Hudson I x 10
Beaufort I x 7
Beaufort V-IX x 34
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
66 casualties reported
Guns lost 4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 55th/B Division, at 24,11
Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 49
P-40E Warhawk x 19
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
126 casualties reported
Guns lost 6
Vehicles lost 1
Harrassment of his land forces starts again in earnest.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Merak at 18,59
Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 51
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
AV Kimikawa Maru, Bomb hits 15, on fire, heavy damage
AND then - out of the blue my dauntlesses decide to launch. Well they have been on naval attack haven't they. Kimikawa Maru is blown out of the water.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 20,59
Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 34
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
AK Muroran Maru, Bomb hits 2
MSW Rikusen Maru, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)
DD Fuyo, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)
They then find some more transports leaving Batavia - he is trying to get defenders in - I need to stop this but not with unescorted Dauntless raids. I reduce the range on these guys to 3.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Pagan
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 3085 troops, 10 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles
Japanese assault odds: 144 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Pagan base !!!
Pagan, below Mandalay, is lost again and this time it will stay captured for some time I imagine.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Lucknow
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 39001 troops, 285 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 28340 troops, 163 guns, 2 vehicles
Allied ground losses:
59 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Lucknow is reduced to bombardment. I join in this time with my units bombarding as well
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 23,10
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 23252 troops, 265 guns, 3 vehicles
Defending force 420 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles
Japanese assault odds: 348 to 1
Allied ground losses:
186 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
Defeated Allied Units Retreating!
A speed bump South of Ahlamabad is brushed aside.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Waingapu
Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 458 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles
Allied assault odds: 46 to 1 (fort level 0)
Allied forces CAPTURE Waingapu base !!!
Thank the lord. He does not load the place with air transported troops and now it is groaning under the weight of 70 P-40Es and 16 SBDs.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well I have suffered the first damage of the invasion to the Formidable but she will survive that one. I fear this next turn will be a horror. If not then the chances of survival will increase markedly. 70 Warhawks and 32 Kittyhawks will arrive in Tjilitap and then the flow will just get heavier.
Both locations are being attacked this turn by the ground troops - hopefully it is enough.
At Madoien many of the ships are now empty and a TF leaves the scene. Its defenders go together to make up an ASW group and they try and track down this errant sub.
No sign as yet of Carriers.
In india things are starting to look a little better with his move on Ahlamabad. I am at 71% level 4 forts and I think I might get most of the way to 5 by the time he gets there. He must have stolen alot of Zeros from India for Java and therefore I may be able to damage his troops significantly before they get into position against the defenders of Ahlamabad. 5 days until Chindits.
[center]
[/center]
[/center]
RE: Formidable wears a torpedo
I do hope you set those warhawks on heavy cap.. or otherwise PzB will plaster the newly captured base where he detects aircraft. He aint a fool and can easily figure what you'll use that base for
Surface combat TF fanboy
More torpedo strikes on the fleet.
Retribution is going very well so far. PzB does manage to get a bit of his own this turn though and I may have my first victim of the OP.
String - very good point. No I didn't set them to CAP. It was one of the things overlooked. This time I do not pay thankfully.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/26/42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 17,61
Japanese Ships
SS I-3, hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
Allied Ships
CA Portland, Torpedo hits 1
DD Voyager
DD Litchfield
DD Dale
DD Porter
DD Lamson
DD Drayton
DD Blue
CL Sumatra
CA Pensacola
CA Indianapolis
Portland is not complete incapacitated but she is now stuck in enemy territory - Batavia - with damage. I sent these guys in to Bombard Batavia and tehy make it only to disregard orders and sit there. Maybe the damage to Portland was enough to break up the mission? Hey will stay there this turn and give out a bit of pain. As another aside I split off some of the faster ships - 1 CA and 5 DDs and they will sprint up to Palembang to see if they can get amongst a small fleet of ships he has retired there.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 19,63
Japanese Ships
SS I-165
Allied Ships
CLAA Caledon, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
DD Pakenham
DD Norman
DD Inconstant
DD Electra
His subs fire again - Caledon is likely to sink. I have pointed her back at Tjilitap (she had tried to retire to Darwin). If she makes it passed his subs (which have suddenly become very efficient - he has Jap sub doctrine on like I have allied but his subs do appear to be firing).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Waingapu , at 27,74
Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 18
Ki-21 Sally x 48
Allied aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 2
A very clever move by PzB that doesn't come off. I loose a couple of P-40Es but the vast majority are able to take off in the morning and head to Tjilitap or Madioen.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 34th Division, at 23,10
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15
Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 3
Blenheim IV x 3
Hudson I x 3
Beaufort I x 3
Beaufort V-IX x 10
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk I: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
Beaufort I: 1 damaged
Beaufort V-IX: 5 destroyed
Japanese ground losses:
42 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1
I am paying for my bombing raids on his troops but as always the combat summary is not as hutful as reality.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 38th Division, at 23,10
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15
Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 6
Blenheim IV x 6
Hudson I x 3
Beaufort I x 3
Beaufort V-IX x 16
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk I: 4 destroyed, 2 damaged
Blenheim IV: 2 destroyed
Beaufort I: 2 destroyed
Beaufort V-IX: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
41 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Every time more men are getting hurt.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 18th Division, at 23,10
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15
Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 26
P-40E Warhawk x 19
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 11 destroyed, 2 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Wellington III: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 7 destroyed, 4 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
71 casualties reported
Guns lost 4
Vehicles lost 1
At last I get a pound of flesh. He will have plenty of Zeros in the reserves but the pilots must be starting to get thin. He has yet to try and defend his troops against the Spitfires - unfotunately they don't have the legs to escort.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 55th/B Division, at 26,10
Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 12
Vildebeest IV x 8
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
14 casualties reported
These guys are more of a worry. They have leapt off the rail line and are now due W of Delhi. I don't know what the intention of this was - he will move slower there - but he may be able to get around me from there.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Madioen at 21,64
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 33
G4M1 Betty x 6
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 14
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 9 destroyed, 1 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 6 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 21 destroyed, 2 damaged
Allied Ships
BB Mississippi, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
BB Tennessee
Back in Java and the Mississippi takes another torp. She is at 22 Sys with about 30 flooding. Along with New Mexico these two BBs are in need of a full overhaul. They are converted to an escort TF, along with the rest of the BBs and DDs at Madioen, and head to Tjilitap. The combat replay is wildly wrong - I actually loose 7 Wildcats - more on this later.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Lucknow
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 39354 troops, 291 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 31448 troops, 220 guns, 2 vehicles
Allied ground losses:
21 casualties reported
I think he is happy to bombard while I am still strong enough to resist.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Madioen
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 13552 troops, 131 guns, 29 vehicles
Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles
Allied assault odds: 48 to 1 (fort level 0)
Allied forces CAPTURE Madioen base !!!
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-46-II Dinah: 3 destroyed
Ki-57-II Topsy: 15 destroyed
L2D2 Tabby: 3 destroyed
A very nice haul of damaged transport planes goes into the bag. It is sooooo nice to return this favour. Despite some pretty horrible Combat replay results taking Madioen actually means I get more of his ACs this turn than he gets mine: 27 to 44. Of the 44 he lost, 17 were zeros - all knocked down in the air!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Tjilitjap
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 19526 troops, 161 guns, 3 vehicles
Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles
Allied assault odds: 164 to 1 (fort level 0)
Allied forces CAPTURE Tjilitjap base !!!
The major port and interim airfield for this OP is captured - I am starting to feel a little better...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A very complicated set of moves this turn.
The Air group of P-40Es at Waingapu split into components. 2/3rds go to Tjilitap and 1/3 to Madioen. There is no base force at Madioen so this is a very temporary measure - 2 base forces are due in tonight (subs permitting). The Hermes unloads the two Kiwi Kittyhawk sqds she has been mothering to Tjilitap. The sqd of marine SBDs moves to Tjilitap. Also a PBY and two dornier flying boat units arrive. This obviously bolsters my fighter capacity by a very large amount!
The cruiser force at Batavia are going to bombard and stay at Batavia. The surface group of 1 CA and 5 DDs is going to try and hit Palembang. The damaged Portland inherits a DD and tries to get back out through the straits to get to Tjilitap. 1 Kittyhawk and the Fulmar unit off the Formidable are LRCAPing the cruiser force.
The transport fleets start unloading again now. At Madioen the 1/3rd P-40E group are on CAP along with the other Kittyhawk sqd which are flying in from Tjilitap. At Tjilitap itself the 2/3rds P-40E group are ordered to LRCAP the base and the continued unloading process. Asdicus - I was a little light on supplies bought, there are 124K on board - a sizable sum.
The other BB TF covering Tjilitap moves towards Batavia. As an aside the DD Isaac Sweers, which had been stuck on the reinforcement list forever, suddenly pops up in Tjilitap! I may have lost the use of the Caledon CLAA but the Isaac Sweers is a far superior AAA platform!
The UK TF of carriers (a sub magnet) is broken up into the American fleets. An oiler Tf intercepted these guys today and topped up the tanks. They are ordered to follow the Batavia bound BB TF. I have changed the CAP settings to 50 and 60% on the wildcats - the carriers have changed from purely defense to defense and attack mode. 1 Wildcat sqd is going to attempt to LRCAP the Palembang bound surface force. Range will be an issue.
To finish off the Java based moves, 4 Base units are arriving for offloading during the night move.
India is still a nightmare but I am going to take the hits with my bomber forces now. He is loosing zeros and I am loosing fighters too. We shall press on with the bombing campaign! Ahlamabad is filling up with units. He is still 2 hexes away from getting there and as predicted the fort level went up to 4 - 17% to 5. 4 days until the Chindits!
My little move to get around Asansol may not be the best idea - I am contemplating the timing. His forces are moving on Lucknow and I must look to retreat from there soon before he outflanks me. If I have to retreat from Lucknow before my units that go around Asansol can get there then they will be cut off. Very very risky.
In China my tank unit at last cuts off his advanced scout unit. The whole Chinese Army is about to get some experience. I doubt I will actually manage to destroy this unit but it will retreat to an ugly out of the way location for him.
String - very good point. No I didn't set them to CAP. It was one of the things overlooked. This time I do not pay thankfully.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/26/42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 17,61
Japanese Ships
SS I-3, hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
Allied Ships
CA Portland, Torpedo hits 1
DD Voyager
DD Litchfield
DD Dale
DD Porter
DD Lamson
DD Drayton
DD Blue
CL Sumatra
CA Pensacola
CA Indianapolis
Portland is not complete incapacitated but she is now stuck in enemy territory - Batavia - with damage. I sent these guys in to Bombard Batavia and tehy make it only to disregard orders and sit there. Maybe the damage to Portland was enough to break up the mission? Hey will stay there this turn and give out a bit of pain. As another aside I split off some of the faster ships - 1 CA and 5 DDs and they will sprint up to Palembang to see if they can get amongst a small fleet of ships he has retired there.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 19,63
Japanese Ships
SS I-165
Allied Ships
CLAA Caledon, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
DD Pakenham
DD Norman
DD Inconstant
DD Electra
His subs fire again - Caledon is likely to sink. I have pointed her back at Tjilitap (she had tried to retire to Darwin). If she makes it passed his subs (which have suddenly become very efficient - he has Jap sub doctrine on like I have allied but his subs do appear to be firing).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Waingapu , at 27,74
Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 18
Ki-21 Sally x 48
Allied aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 2
A very clever move by PzB that doesn't come off. I loose a couple of P-40Es but the vast majority are able to take off in the morning and head to Tjilitap or Madioen.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 34th Division, at 23,10
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15
Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 3
Blenheim IV x 3
Hudson I x 3
Beaufort I x 3
Beaufort V-IX x 10
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk I: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
Beaufort I: 1 damaged
Beaufort V-IX: 5 destroyed
Japanese ground losses:
42 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1
I am paying for my bombing raids on his troops but as always the combat summary is not as hutful as reality.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 38th Division, at 23,10
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15
Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 6
Blenheim IV x 6
Hudson I x 3
Beaufort I x 3
Beaufort V-IX x 16
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk I: 4 destroyed, 2 damaged
Blenheim IV: 2 destroyed
Beaufort I: 2 destroyed
Beaufort V-IX: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
41 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Every time more men are getting hurt.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 18th Division, at 23,10
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15
Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 26
P-40E Warhawk x 19
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 11 destroyed, 2 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Wellington III: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 7 destroyed, 4 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
71 casualties reported
Guns lost 4
Vehicles lost 1
At last I get a pound of flesh. He will have plenty of Zeros in the reserves but the pilots must be starting to get thin. He has yet to try and defend his troops against the Spitfires - unfotunately they don't have the legs to escort.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 55th/B Division, at 26,10
Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 12
Vildebeest IV x 8
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
14 casualties reported
These guys are more of a worry. They have leapt off the rail line and are now due W of Delhi. I don't know what the intention of this was - he will move slower there - but he may be able to get around me from there.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Madioen at 21,64
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 33
G4M1 Betty x 6
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 14
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 9 destroyed, 1 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 6 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 21 destroyed, 2 damaged
Allied Ships
BB Mississippi, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
BB Tennessee
Back in Java and the Mississippi takes another torp. She is at 22 Sys with about 30 flooding. Along with New Mexico these two BBs are in need of a full overhaul. They are converted to an escort TF, along with the rest of the BBs and DDs at Madioen, and head to Tjilitap. The combat replay is wildly wrong - I actually loose 7 Wildcats - more on this later.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Lucknow
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 39354 troops, 291 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 31448 troops, 220 guns, 2 vehicles
Allied ground losses:
21 casualties reported
I think he is happy to bombard while I am still strong enough to resist.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Madioen
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 13552 troops, 131 guns, 29 vehicles
Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles
Allied assault odds: 48 to 1 (fort level 0)
Allied forces CAPTURE Madioen base !!!
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-46-II Dinah: 3 destroyed
Ki-57-II Topsy: 15 destroyed
L2D2 Tabby: 3 destroyed
A very nice haul of damaged transport planes goes into the bag. It is sooooo nice to return this favour. Despite some pretty horrible Combat replay results taking Madioen actually means I get more of his ACs this turn than he gets mine: 27 to 44. Of the 44 he lost, 17 were zeros - all knocked down in the air!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Tjilitjap
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 19526 troops, 161 guns, 3 vehicles
Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles
Allied assault odds: 164 to 1 (fort level 0)
Allied forces CAPTURE Tjilitjap base !!!
The major port and interim airfield for this OP is captured - I am starting to feel a little better...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A very complicated set of moves this turn.
The Air group of P-40Es at Waingapu split into components. 2/3rds go to Tjilitap and 1/3 to Madioen. There is no base force at Madioen so this is a very temporary measure - 2 base forces are due in tonight (subs permitting). The Hermes unloads the two Kiwi Kittyhawk sqds she has been mothering to Tjilitap. The sqd of marine SBDs moves to Tjilitap. Also a PBY and two dornier flying boat units arrive. This obviously bolsters my fighter capacity by a very large amount!
The cruiser force at Batavia are going to bombard and stay at Batavia. The surface group of 1 CA and 5 DDs is going to try and hit Palembang. The damaged Portland inherits a DD and tries to get back out through the straits to get to Tjilitap. 1 Kittyhawk and the Fulmar unit off the Formidable are LRCAPing the cruiser force.
The transport fleets start unloading again now. At Madioen the 1/3rd P-40E group are on CAP along with the other Kittyhawk sqd which are flying in from Tjilitap. At Tjilitap itself the 2/3rds P-40E group are ordered to LRCAP the base and the continued unloading process. Asdicus - I was a little light on supplies bought, there are 124K on board - a sizable sum.
The other BB TF covering Tjilitap moves towards Batavia. As an aside the DD Isaac Sweers, which had been stuck on the reinforcement list forever, suddenly pops up in Tjilitap! I may have lost the use of the Caledon CLAA but the Isaac Sweers is a far superior AAA platform!
The UK TF of carriers (a sub magnet) is broken up into the American fleets. An oiler Tf intercepted these guys today and topped up the tanks. They are ordered to follow the Batavia bound BB TF. I have changed the CAP settings to 50 and 60% on the wildcats - the carriers have changed from purely defense to defense and attack mode. 1 Wildcat sqd is going to attempt to LRCAP the Palembang bound surface force. Range will be an issue.
To finish off the Java based moves, 4 Base units are arriving for offloading during the night move.
India is still a nightmare but I am going to take the hits with my bomber forces now. He is loosing zeros and I am loosing fighters too. We shall press on with the bombing campaign! Ahlamabad is filling up with units. He is still 2 hexes away from getting there and as predicted the fort level went up to 4 - 17% to 5. 4 days until the Chindits!
My little move to get around Asansol may not be the best idea - I am contemplating the timing. His forces are moving on Lucknow and I must look to retreat from there soon before he outflanks me. If I have to retreat from Lucknow before my units that go around Asansol can get there then they will be cut off. Very very risky.
In China my tank unit at last cuts off his advanced scout unit. The whole Chinese Army is about to get some experience. I doubt I will actually manage to destroy this unit but it will retreat to an ugly out of the way location for him.
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RE: More torpedo strikes on the fleet.
Good job, Wobbly! If you get a chance to take a screenshot of your operation, that would be of keen interest to me. Glad to see you fighting the good fight.
RE: More torpedo strikes on the fleet.
Can I suggest you avoid Madioen for unloading - it is a size 0 port ie a beach. Also by concentrating your transports at Tijilitjap you give yourself less places to have to cover from air attack.
Do you have any dutch recon air units left ? If so it would be useful to recon the bases in java to see what you are up against.
Sending ships to palembang is a dicey thing to do - they really are going to suffer if the weather stays clear. Your opponent is bound to be building up a real large antiship strike and that taskforce is way out of range of air cover.
I urge you to be cautious now you are ashore. Keep your ships under land based air cover - you will need every surface combatant in due course when retribution arrives - just cover your airfields and transports while they unload.
Don't forget to keep sending ships out of karachi every turn.
Good luck !
Do you have any dutch recon air units left ? If so it would be useful to recon the bases in java to see what you are up against.
Sending ships to palembang is a dicey thing to do - they really are going to suffer if the weather stays clear. Your opponent is bound to be building up a real large antiship strike and that taskforce is way out of range of air cover.
I urge you to be cautious now you are ashore. Keep your ships under land based air cover - you will need every surface combatant in due course when retribution arrives - just cover your airfields and transports while they unload.
Don't forget to keep sending ships out of karachi every turn.
Good luck !