Herb VS Tabpub

[1275psi]

Hi fred

tanks for the comments
I have all the oil centres other than soerabaya and as you say Mandalaby (why bother!)
You have to have 10000 supplies in a base to repair 1 point per day - at a cost of 1000 supplies a day
I captured miri at 87/100
brunie 80"s
balikapapan was 300
tarakan was (from memory ) about 40 odd
balaikapapan was in the 80's

then tabpub liberators went and scored 16-20 damage on the lot
(except palembang which was already at 0[:(] )

Its impossible to generate enough supplies to repair all that -and fight a war.

I expanded industry at about the same as i do in against AI games - and have been burnt.
currently halted all plane production.

Tabpub is at Origions - so i wait patiently.

[1275psi]

16/6/42

Does anyone else have trouble consistantly with fail to load messages?
grrrrrr
Only got one turn in last night, and Im so enjoying this, unlike my game against Wobbly, you know - the lets send everything to the DEI man?Well its working for him there in our game[:(]

But back to this war
Area 1
One of my "Invasion" AKs was attacked by a sub of victoria point - this sub scares me - right in the path of yammato for tonight.

In Burma 55 div is hit by a lot of LBA. Im trying my best to build other airfields, lacking a lot in air support here.
The big news is that tomorrow 1cvl, 2 cve, 3 bb and 2 other cl task forces, will escort the 5th const "invasion fleet" of about 6 aps, and other units towards tricomalee.
lets see if he reacts to this in the pacific

Area 2
A sub action near Jolo island - a sub on the convoy route - ASW groups race to the scene
Sonias attack soerabaya- and pay very heavily, 5 lost, for 1 pt boat sunk
54th div is near balikapapan, and the 2nd is still in phillipine waters.
LRCAP begins for the 54th div
The forces in the phillipines are recovering nicely

Area3
Sub of derby - asw misses
41 B17s hit 38 div south of darwin - and cause very few caso's - they are dug in well.
in return 34 helens, 54 zeros strike 1st cav div - 102 casos
then 36 sallies-50 casos
More helens enroute from japan[:'(]
I may, if I can find them , move more zeros in

Area 4
Fuel at Truk at last! - delivered by AKs, tankers are for oil in this navy
Truk finally reaches size 9 -which at this stage really indicates my supply situation
The minelayers finally get going, a lot to catch up

Area5
well the gilberts get fuel at last as well.
Im spreading single PGs to each likely target here - objective - to be trip wires/delaying units for the hoped for attack
he keeps reconning baker - and every turn at least one of my subs is air attacked, no losses yet

Area6
Subs off tokyo - hunting them

In china I make a rash move
Planes at Canton are put to city attack for wuchow tomorrow - an element of the AVG is in North china, trying to intercept training raids there.
I wonder what form the retaliation will take[8|]

we have not had a "major battle" for months - I am hoping tabpub gets impatient.

[1275psi]

17/6/42
Area1 - sure enough the sub attacked the yammato battle group, but failed to press the attack
Blenhiems night bombed pagan
64 Mitchells - a new unit?- attacks pagan as well
An extra unit is west of mandalaby, thats ok, Im pulling back to pagan again

The "invasion" is underway, ships gathering near the Adaman islands

Area2
Actually a quiet day, we hunt subs at Jolo, as the 2 divisions sail down the maccassar straight, I am trying to cover them with LRCAP

Area3
Today 35 helens, 29 zero hit a tank unit south of darwin -inflicted 79 casos, 9 vehciles.
Ordered the bombers to rest tomorrow. 2 Battlecruisers anchore in darwin harbour

Area4
The solomons were very quiet

Area5
He hunts my subs around canton island, and I keep on dodging

Area6
OK, he has been niggling away for ages with the chinese air force for months, Im guessing every plane is on ground attack - so a new tactic, no more Freebies!!
I order an attack on his industry in wuchow

he is also reconning Attu island
Northern command gets some reinforcements, 6 subs, 18 betties, 9 jakes, 36 nates are assigned to that command
I intend to assign 1 CL and some Dds to here as well
Not much I know, but I have to do something

[1275psi]

18/6/42
Area1
One of my APs is spotted south of tricomalee - good[:'(]
Asw action near rangoon - miss

Area2
In the phillipines Im training nates, and reconstituting some forces there.
The LRCAP fails - again near soerabaya - and 1 AP is sunk, 2 damaged.
A PG is sunk as well.
Very discouraging
Worse - 2 wirriways avoid 9 zeros to deliver their eggs.

Area3
36 B17s struck the 38 div - 100 casos - ouch
A very big bombing campain will begin tomorrow.
he is moving units all over the place down south - one enters the hex with the 38 div, 1 to its west (with the units pushed off the road), several south.
The plan to disperse his strength may be working
2 helen,2 sally,1 lilly,2 zero sqs will attack tomorrow.

Area4
All quiet - but , man, the subs that are entering the waters here, a staedy stream of them .

Area5
baker island is hit today, and a sub sits there as well.
Come on buddy, its a lovely plum just waiting for you[:'(]

Area6
well i hit wuchow - 4 industry hits
I move 2 lilly bomber sqs about and into china - Siam oil tomorrow
And 6 fully rested divisions will advance on the 2 chinese units north of canton - time to remind him that china has teeth.

[1275psi]

TF 123

Operational order

Operation bend over

from RADM Yamaguchi
to
TF 72- 1 cl 4dd
TF64 - 1cl 5dd
TF83- 1cvl, 2cve,9dd
TF 123 - BB yammato,mutsu,nagato,1cl,9dd

Invasion fleet - 1msw, 6aps
decoy units- 3 aps

Objective
As part of the overall strategy plan, this battle group is to stage a mock attack on the Indian sub continent.
we are to show all intent of staging an invasion , and if at all possible, convince enemy forces in the pacific that the bulk of the imperial fleet is here.

I intend to skirt the coast of ceylon, and if the situation allows, to conduct a raid on tricomalee.
this task force will see battle, and I know i can depend on its sailors and airmen to show true fighting spirit.

Forces shall gather at a point 180 miles north west of adaman island, await the invasion force, and refuel.

further orders to follow

[1275psi]

18/6/42
bay of bengal operations begin, he sights an AP in the bay,another shoomozle near soerabaya as he hits and sinks 3 APs[X(][:@], and his wirriways dodge zeros.
B17s attack at extreme range 38 div - 100 casos, and thats it!
so a quiet day.

[1275psi]

19/6/42
Area1
beaforts attack at night pagan - i might have to yellow card him[:'(] - but they are hitting nothing, so play on!
30 B17 hit pagan, 55 casos today
22 oscars tangle with 4 hurricanes, the oscars were on ground attack - Im grateful only 1 lost

In the bay the navy waves the flag big time, 3 hudsons attack an AK, but miss

Area2
Another PG is sunk by soerabaya air, batavia clouded in
Nates train in the phillipines - Im scraping together transports for the final operations in the phillipines.

Area3
kendari dispatches supplies to area3 outposts
darwin cracks 22000 supplies, and gets some plane reinforcements
darwin shakes to the sound of aero engines as at 3000 ft the squadrons conduct a mass flypass over the city - the boost to moral is tremendous[:'(]
35 sally,56 helen,19 lilly attack his tank regiment - results vague.
38 div opens fire on 5th aust division, he advances very cautiously.
the tank regiment is attempting to swing to the west, it may be a battle of manouver

and a single ap unloads in the gulf a NLF - destination, the road to the south .
It has not been spotted i believe[:'(]

Area4
subs everywhere around Truk and rabual, grrrrrr

Area 5
I lose SI-9 to a mitchell.

In china, we hit hengchow with 31 Lilly
Its warming up again on this front.

[1275psi]

20/6/42
10 blenhiems keep pagan awake overnight again
At KODIAK ss I-160 sinks an AVD, 1st canadian victim of the war I believe ( !@#@!#canucks!), what business do they have in the greater south east prosperity sphere!

bay of Bengal ships are sighted everywhere
13 lillies hit hengchow, i await a retalitation
50 hurricanes at Mandalaby, crikey!

I hit soerabaya with sonias, and get a bloody nose, but the 164 sallies crater the place - a nice blow -121 hits, 30 airbase hits

south of darwin 26 B17s strike -65 casos
another heavy, heavy strike by my air kills 21 vehciles -or 10% of his tank regiment[:@]

38 div faces 3rd and 5th aust division - 31000 troops to mt 22400.
to the west 30 aust brigade and 193 tank will attack tomorrow 32nlf, and 62 const - they swear to take 1 for 1[8D][8|]

[1275psi]

21/6/42
area1
The bay of bengal operation continues - 1st caso are suffered
CL tatsuta is torpedoed by a sub, she is dispatched to rangoon, and will make it
BB nagato is spotted

Area2
Soerabaya is weakening - he is evacuating any shipping left in the harbour[:)].
More troops begin unloading at malang - a division today, and another is at the end of the macassar straight
the sonias throw themselves at the field again - brave men
Convoys are running very well

area3
he deliberate attacks the 38th - and is easily repulsed
To the west his tanks chase the units north, shock and follow!
so 38th is outflanked quicker than I hoped, so i order a withdrawal

the silver lining is the tank reiment sticks out like a sore thumb, and Ill pound it again tomorrow!

I am getting more and more confident with this battle.

Area4
i conduct a supply survey - desperate!

Area 5
The subs are ordered home - more paranoid tactics - where did they go?, is India the real thing - no subs here -must be a decoy -Ok v -attack baker.
(stupid I know, but we can dream[8|]


Area6
In China i catch him out - 3 divisions, 4 brigades, 1 tank regiment, throw out 2 chinese divisions north of canton.
Im not planning anything else here -they will retire again - I just want him paranoid[:'(] (he did lose 1000 men)

[1275psi]

Secret

Minutes of meeting, war cabinet and members of general staff
dated 22/6/42

Meeting opened with cabinet passes on the emperors appreciation of the general staff to date, and his general concern about the soerabaya situation
Ltgen Itagaki informed the cabinet that with the arrival of 2nd division this week, and a further division in anothers, soerabaya would be secured in 3 weeks.

a brief discussion took place over the current operation " bend over", with Navy expressing some disquiet over principle units being exposed to such risks, particularily submarines, seeing how a DD had been lost as well today.
yammato forcibly reminded cabinet of the need to engage the enemy carriers above all.
army then retorted why not seek them, to which navy gave a violent explanation of Navy fuel situation.

a ten minute recess was called

After this the principle topic -the supply situation was discussed.
Economy minister gave a bleak brief

In the entire empire only 5 bases have over 20000 supply, Kendari, 2 home island bases, darwin and Wake!

Area 4 in particulatr is critical, currently relying on kendari and a trickle from home islands.
fuel is becoming scarce as well.
Home minister then announced that he has requested some 20 AKs (navy promised 10) for stripping manchuria of supplies and fuel.
virtually all A/c production has been halted, pools to be run down.
This -it was explained- was a viscous catch 22.
until supplies reach 20000, no planes can be issued - which then swallow more supplies

a great debate over the flow of oil then errupted.
Although sufficient resources are flowing from the DEI (and area 2 cmmander expressed delight that not 1 resource ship had been lost yet), the quantity of oil was far below pre war plans

palembang currently only exporting 53 units a day, far below expectation of 300-400.
enquiries on other centres showed that most are nearing 100% again, yet the crux of the matter is palembang.

little can be done here.

the meeting finished with navy expressing the hope that the situation might improve with soerabaya falling - to which the air chief expressed great doubt.

there was agreement, that should operation bend over not draw the enemy into premature battle by 30/6/42, all offensive plans were to be cancelled.
again Navy asked cabinet for a peace mission.
The Prime minister replied that he needed a crushing, total naval victory before he could go to a peace table in strength.

[1275psi]

22/6/42
area 1
DD hato is gutted by a sub in the bay
The admiral grits his teeth, and moves the fleet again[:@]
In a rash anger move, 2CL and some DDs are ordered to bombard tricomalee
BB mutsu is surprise attacked by 3 hudsons -a 250lb bomb scratches the paint

Area2
Aks sunk leaving soerabaya, he's bugging out the cripples
158 sallies hit soerabaya -111 hits

Area 3
193 tank unit is struck with my full might
254 casos, 18 vehciles destroyed
It shock attacks again, and again the 62const and 32nlf run away, almost with out a scratch- and it is obvious to me that 193 tank is heavily disrupted.

Its going to be a bloody affair getting to darwin[:'(]

[1275psi]

mother

This is our 4th day? facing the enmy tanks here in the desert scrub.
Our spirits remain high.
today the tanks attacked.
In a great wedge, nearly 100 lee and stuart tanks left the ridge we abandoned yesterday, confident of crushing us I am sure.

today was a glorious day to see the strength of the empire -even as they left the ridge, over 100 of our bombers struck them , so low i could almost touch their wings.
and the dust!
I counted 18 vehciles burning, and 100's dead

then the fun began.
we cannot battle tanks, but they have liitle infantry support.
As orderd, we simply awaited them to enter the spinifix, and rocky ground here, and began our game of hide and seek.
all day our zeros flew in and straffed him.

I made it, and our casualties were very light.

We are on the road to derby now - clear land, and a Naval guard unit took us in.
How wonderful that meal was.
and good news mother, by the time you get this, our unit may be on the way home!
The road makes a natural wall here, and i counted 48 of our tanks along it.
Our commander states only 92 enemy vehciles followed us, and they stopped some 10 miles from here.
spirits are high, we hear 38 div retires to prepared positions.
as long as we control the sky, I feel we will never be ejected from here.
Long live the herbiesan!

[1275psi]

23/6/42
as the imperial division approaches rangoon, the fleet begins to drag units to the west in India - a nice bonus to the op.

8 hudsons attack - hit CL Kiso with 4 bombs - OH no, I think
System damage 10[:'(] - a lucky ship
We bombard soerabaya again

South of Darwin his tank regiment -what a target - 67 helens, 36 sallies, 24 Lillies, 52 zeros - 234 casos, 14 vehciles.

And we are right at the extreme B17 range now.

Little else happening.

[1275psi]

24/6/42
Convoys, convoys, convoys, over half the turn is spent moving oil and resources

Sub attack south of truk - miss
34 liberators night bomb Rangoon - I have to yellow card tabpub here - I think we house ruled no night bombing until 44.
See what his reply says[:'(]

OK, his hurricanes switch to ground attack at pagan
I really cannot wait until soerabaya is finished off -so much air power i will be able to release.
Even at this late stage, Im confident that I can swing things here.
Im very busy building the infranstructure to support here.

The BBs in the Bay _43 B17's -cannot find target -I move south west -looking like Im going for a home run on karachi?
18 zeros sweep at 28000 ft tricomalee - only 2 hurricanes rise, and are shot down

Imperial divison recieves LRCAP as it approaches rangoon

At soerabaya, the last 2 divisions are arriving/unloading at malang

Its pretty quiet elsewhere - trying to get fuel to the gilberts,have sent the replenishment ships home - empty, KB range is very restricted now.

Man, fuel is getting very, very grim.

[1275psi]

25/6/42
area 1
the bay of bengal cruise continues, the fleet loiters just out of range, then just in of tricomallee
5 hudsons attack today, and miss, 4 wellingtons miss as well.

The imperial division is on day out ofrangoon
31 hurricanes attack pagan, met by 22 nates, they jump the hurricanes and damage 19!, and shoot down 3
The commander contacts area 2 , and a quick deal and plan takes place
it will be 5 to 6 days until the final assualt begins on soerabaya.
Until then, 3 sqs of zeros, and all the sallies will move to rangoon, rahaeng and moulimien? and when ready smash mandalaby in a surprise attack.
he's spent ages training up the hurricanes, now to undo all that work.

Area 2
the troops unload, and unload, and unload at madang -which is operational with lots of oscars on CAP.
soerabaya is recovering, but I am very confident now.

Area 3
today the bombers pound the tanks south of darwin again, has he stopped?

Area 4
All quiet, still, some supplies are on the way, its a matter of hanging on until the DEI are secured, then I feel things will improve.

area 5
Buggar, he just won't come out of his hole!

area 6
China falls back to sleep

[1275psi]

what am i up to, he asks
Guess[:D]
the imperial division begins unloading.
lots of planes arrive rangoon, more to come, lots more.
the fleet in the bay is still well south of tricomalee -tabpub says Im iether waiting for something, have mucked up, or Im a freaking idiot[:'(]

Imperial division unloads.[:'(]

South of darwin, he has brought all his units back onto the road, except one, unfortunately im going to lose the 9 NLF , he spotted it in the gulf

and a unit has been spotted coming to derby, OK, this will not be fought for, transports are enroute to evac the troops.
( if he comes with only a division, i might return , going to have 4 divisions soon to play with not far away)[:'(]

its going to be a long 6 months.

[1275psi]

We had another hick up with the imperial division disapearing -again! -as it unloaded at rangoon.
We back tracked a turn, I unloaded half at rangoon, now Im trying to unload the other half at moulimien, so far so good. Just to be safe Im keeping a remnant at sea I think.

Anyway, the imperial Division arrives at rangoon.
In the bay of bengal, the fleet calls it a day, and we retire

Tabpub has not taken the bait[:(][:(][:(]
as a sop , we consider the delivery of the imperial unmolested a success.

down at soerabaya, 2nd division, 54th division, and 3 tank regiments unload at malang, soon they will finish soerabaya

And non too soon
At least 7 units approach derby - OK, out of there guys -fast transports are enroute

south of darwin, we seem to have another tank unit identified -it shocks the poor 9 nlf- did not kill it, but it will be soon.

If soerabaya can be killed soon, I may have 4 divisions to throw in here -inflict a defeat, and get out.

We will see.[8|]

[1275psi]

Area 1

12 blenhiems hit at night here, no problems though
48 mitchells attack pagan, OK , here we go, as 26 oscars, and 23 nates intercept.
The nates have been pretty good so far -these have very high experience though
Shot down 4 mitchell for no loss
then37 liberators hit as well, 1 oscar shot down
I think matrix should be congradulated, the resultsseem to be realistic when the bomber numbers do not become uber size.

The imperial division seems to be OK as it unloads still - here is hoping

I can't wait for the next day, 100 plus sallys,80 betties,100 zeros,25 oscars, and some nates, operating from 4 fields will hit mandalaby tomorrow.
Time to surprise him

Area2
training flights in the phillipines, units will soon sail to those isolated units, and clean them up
At soerabaya, he finally gets airborne again, my oscars fail to stop one AP being hit
2nd div, 54 div and 3 tank regiments are all but unloaded, and all units less the 21st mixed are at 100% strength at soerabaya
If this army cannot do the job,- "the games busted[:D][;)][:'(]"

Area3
Some B17s are pesty south of darwin
poor 9th NLF is going to be 1st unit destroyed, tanks trap it, shock attacking.
My LBA again picks out a unit, and kills 200 aussies
Now 8 units coming north

Over at derby, it might get grim, only a NG unit there, and a few NLFs.
Transports are enroute, and some planes are evacuating
Far too many enemy here to fight

Area4
Sub warfare - I just can't kill one!!![:@]
(why subs should operate in deep water)

Everywhere else, its scrabbling for supplies, convoys, and trying to run an economy that is struggling along.
The bay of bengal ships are headed home

yammato, deeply depressed over the failed fishing trip,orders more Sake, and will have to come up with a new plan

Area 2 commander has one............

[1275psi]

29/6/42
The imperial is still there -(Im paranoisd about this division, will try to unload the last bits tonight -hope it does not teleport anywhere!

ASW action at TRUK - and I still cannot sink a sub[:@]
The AVG is at hengchow, Im trying to get an aviation regiment to Hong kong, then I will commence a smash China industry campaign

In Burma, rangoon is clouded in
But the zeros from raheng do fly
52 zeros, 25 oscars and 13 Nates bounce 25 hurricanes over mandalaby
I lost 5 zeros, and shoot down 20 hurricanes

If we get clear skies the bombers go tomorrow.

Down south of darwin, tabpub E mails that he feels bogged down, his tank regiment shocks 9 nlf, 32 to 1, they hang on.

Over near derby, the Aust 2nd tank regiment forces elements of the 16 NG towards derby, this could get messy
I need to identify the forces here, this is the mission

Operation bend over is concluded, the ships suck up huge quantities of fuel.
The CVEs are ordered to Rangoon, we have a mission for the zeros[:'(]

[1275psi]

Report on bay Of bengal operation

BB Yammato Mutsu and Nagato , TF 123 operated in bay of bengal in support of Imperial division operations .
operation considered a success, with evidence of wide scale redeployment of enemy air assetts to India

Enemy action
confined to several low level raids by hudson and wellington bombers
BB Mutsu struck by single 250 LB bomb
1 Cl hit by several bombs, negligable damage, and CL tatsuta torpedoed by submarine -heavily damaged. A DD also has reported damage from a submarine

Enemy losses
2 hurricanes

Intelligence - Enemy B17s twice attacked but failed to close the attack - the range of these planes is not to be under esimated.
Personal note
I consider this operation a waste of fuel and assetts.
I believe the Commander of the carrier force showed too little fighting spirit, we should hace attacked columbo
TF123 will look very dimly on any further "fishing exped" requests from Burma army

The enemy still shows a major reluctance to challenge us in the area, I believe that the majority of his fleet is probably in Karachi.