PBEM Aztez (A) vs FDRLincoln(J) (Vorsteher and Hawker replaced)

[Sardaukar]

I think he'll have to intervene with KB if you start to threaten to cut off substantial numbers of his troops. If you get one of those islands cut out of supply you'll start to make substantial points via attrition. Subs, mines, level bombers and maybe fighter-bombers set on 100ft to stop even barges getting through. 100 000+ troops need *lot* of supply, so they should start to run out quite fast if you manage a blockade.

[aztez]

Hmpf... Just to clarify your idea... You think assault on Gilberts will achieve this or are you talking about Marcus Island - Saipan - Tinian axel??? [:)]

Btw which part of Finland are you from....?

[Rob Brennan UK]

Marcus ??? are you insane .. without wake its a death trap ( i would imagine ) .. remember the recon word ? [:D]

Anyway .. now i calmed down .. gilberts for my 2p .. why ?

1) Marcus is way out on a limb . miles from any sensible supply lines .. might as well invade okinowa

2) guadalcanal is a stinking jungle that is worthless imo

3) PM look too heavily defended

4) Timor is freaking miles from any troop concentrations .. but it may be worth your while shipping some brits down for this later on if you want to ignore Burma after getting myth back.

5 ) gilberts and marshalls are doable without much risk to CV's .. sure you will need them for the initial invasions but take plenty of AV support and you can have 200 fighters there in a jiffy .. and/or plenty of mitchells which ruin jap supply conwoys and i bet you have 1000's of the buggers in the pools so losses are ignorable ( is that a word ? )

6) .. Ummm .. Had a vision from God/ Gods ( depends on your reigion) [:D][:D][:D][:D]

ok ill shut up now .. and curse the TV for not showing spooks tonight ( UK spy drama )

bye

Rob

[Sardaukar]

I was thinking about Marcus I-Pagan-Tinina etc. While Marcus I. is far away, you can use Midway to stage for it. And after that using Marcus for staging to attack Pagan. That way you could cut the Japanese supply routes.

And I live in Central Finland nowadays, near Jyväskylä (that's a moythful !![:D])

[Rob Brennan UK]

I cant even pronounce that ! .. Guess the long winter is slowly coming your way ..

If you do go for marcus it would be very interesting [&:]. and be an enjoyable reading experience , but it would probably go horribly wrong .. humm could supply from alaska i suppose ..

good luck with whatever you decide [:D]

cheers

Rob


<mutter> loonie .. [;)]

[aztez]

I have been quite busy again so that explains the lack of updates [:(]

Both of you have valid points on which to consider future actions...

Here is what I have come up with....

Step by Step

1) I should capture Baker Island first... simply because I do have the advantage of using LBA's in this offensive. When this mission is complete I do have a solid beach head on which to threaten Gilberts and Marshalls.

2) Next course of action would be....

a) Bomb Tarawa and supporting Island to stoneage and than invade the this island chain. This would give a good and solid forward bases for allies.

b) Take Marcus Island as Sardaukar suggested... but I think I need to capture Wake Island too [:(] or this could turn out to be massive graveyard for allied troops... this operation would need all of my CV's also.

c) This is something I have been thinking... maybe amphibious landing againts the base just above Medan... This would seriously threaten his troops and navy currently at the Malaya peninsula... that would be also quite bold move.

or

d) combine all of these actions two of them that would launch simultaneously...


Btw... I have also lived in Jyväskylä in 1998 [;)] but nowdays I do live in West Coast in "Pohjanmaa"... oh, and Rob it is not that difficult to pronounce at least not after few beers [:D]


The current game date is 20th of April 1943....


Here is the scoreline at the moment...


Allied Bases controlled 130
Allied Base points 3479

Japanese bases controlled 319
Japanese bases points 6715

Allied aircraft lost points 4348
Japanese aircraft lost points 5131

Allied army lost points 9926
Japanese army lost points 2011

Allied ships sunk 341
Allied ships sunk points 3793

Japanese ships sunk 187
Japanese ships sunk points 1584

Japanese score 24782
Allied score 12205


China


I have been busy keeping supply levels up for my troops... Chungking + 30 000, Chengtu and Kweiyang + 20 000 each... so this situation isn't that bad.

More Chinese fighters are upgrading to P40N's... so this will give me offensive capabilities soon enough.

Otherwise just taking a breather for upcoming battles...


Burma & India


Pretty much the same... I have moved few Spitfires to Myithkina just in case he deciedes to use it as training ground... More troops are arriving to India and I do have soon quite substantial force on which to build up my counter offensives.

No action here either though at the moment...



Central & North Pacific + West Coast


Major ship upgrades happening here... US DD's and such are getting way better equipped.

Operation Delfine is still ongoing and few enemy AK's have been hit in past week or so...

Canton Island is also being build up for more troops... These troops will use this island as staging point for their assault againts Baker Island.

Quiet before storm breaks loose...


Australia, NZ & South Pacific


Quiet... just additional troop deployments going on... I have dispatched additional NZ brigades to Canton Island to be used in upcoming operations.

I have not raided any of the enemy strongholds in the area near Guadacanal... But next time when I do I will have huge airstrike power concentrated on a single base in question.

Timor have been bombed as usual... Japanese are suffering heavily in this little island.

Japanese have trained their pilots againts Kai Island... I have counted well over 200 Zeros participating in this action so he really have substantial airpower down in DEI.

Also ship upgrades happening for US Navy vessels... a lot DD's are getting more dangerous [:D]

That's all for now...

[Sardaukar]

Well, my family is from Pohjanmaa..Lapua and Ilmajoki to be precise..[8D].

Forgot to add that your submarines are already quite effective so remember to use them a lot. Mk 14 torpedo dud rate is now down to 60 %a d will drop to normal 10% in September 1943. And now they have SJ radars, so contacts shouldn't be problem. One can sink quite a lot IJN ships with "total sub war". [8D]

[Rob Brennan UK]

I really should use subs better in my game .. now that the radar ugrades have happened .. but its sooooo easy to leave them clumped together and click 'reload' on mine laying missions .. just dropped some off in tokyo bay .. <snigger>[:D]

Baker is the way ahead imo . and from looking at the score your doing well in the air and miles away from a jap 4-1 .. Looks to be a good score for troops too .. im guessing its the dead piling up in china [&:]

I just noticed im the foreigner in here [:D][:'(]

[Sardaukar]

Heh, i didn't know that Aztez lives in Finland, so that was surprise for 2 of us !! [:D]

He seems to be well away from defeat now. If they can keep the game up I suspect that he can beat Japanese in 1945 when it takes inly 2-1 score. In late 1943 US power finally starts to show. With multiple carrier TFs and lots of landing ships it's easy to keep couple of invasions going in same time. And air power will be murderous to Japanese since theur pilot quality will lower, no matter what.

[aztez]

Well.. Ilmajoki and Lapua aren't too far off from here where I live... ain't world a small place [:D]

The score isn't bad at the moment... I'am actually quite happy at the moment but the war has not yet started fully! ...maybe I can achieve victory in 1945 but there are a lot "if's" on the way...

Really not that much happening at the moment... I'am building up my forces and upgrading navy assets... and he.. well I don't have a clue what he is up to.... propably digging in with his forces [&:]

I have been busy with ship upgrades... Btw I still have Wildcats as my fighters in CV's... Should I wait for HellCats before using my CV in full offensive capability???

I have included a screenshot from China... here you can view overall situation at the moment...


Game date is now 4th of April 1943



India & Burma


Snooze.... ZzZzZzZz.... no combat action to report.

Only intresting news is that he has propably abandoned Akyab since my LBA did not assault the base when set to Ground attack... if so I think I will invaded the base in question with my troops.

Chandspur will receive more supplies from Karachi... Holiday season continues.

There 150 Dakota's on their way towards India... and before those aircrafts arrive I'am unable to mount serious offensives here...


China



By the looking the screenshot that is included you can see that this front is stabilized at the moment... There are +200 000 in Kweiyang and Chungking (he will not take these bases)... Chengtu is well defended and there are mobilie reserves which can cause a lot of problems.

I did send 2 Airbase units to Yunan... I'am hoping that they could re-open the airfield there... will have to wait and see what happens... if they are successfull than I'll shoot down quite a few enemy planes.

No offensive actions has been fought here either....


Central & North Pacific


North Pacific.... ZzZzZzZ... [8D]

Operation Delfine is ongoing... 1 Japanese TK and 1 CL were reportedly hit... Odd thing is that
he does not have that many vessels near his home islands since radar contacts at the moment are too few... What is his alternative route??? He must bring in supplies for his production!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 50,48

Japanese Ships
CL Tenryu, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Nautilus

No offensive actions here either... 1 surface combat TF is has left Pearl Harbour and their destination Canton Island.



Australia, NZ & South Pacific



No offensive actions... Some troops arrived to Upolu Island... they are to be rested there for a while.

Baker Island have been bombed daily by LBA....

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 13th Base Force, at 94,92

Allied aircraft
PBY Catalina x 2
P-38G Lightning x 14
B-25J Mitchell x 37
PB4Y Liberator x 3
B-24D Liberator x 10

Allied aircraft losses
PBY Catalina: 1 damaged
B-25J Mitchell: 6 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
32 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

... as well as Timor...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 148th IJN Base Force, at 31,77

Allied aircraft
B-25J Mitchell x 46
B-17E Fortress x 55

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
170 casualties reported

It has been peacefull in Suva, Luganville and Noumea...


I have been building up Cairns for future operations... I have substantial airforces stationed there.

He has kept training his pilots againts Kai Island... Nothing I can do to stop him at the moment.

[Sardaukar]

Hellcats do make quite a difference in air combat compared to Wildcats. They should be arriving quite soon, so I'd suggest patience in operations before upgrade. Quite difficult advice for myself to follow too..[:'(]. Tend to rush into action before gathering enough forces.

[Rob Brennan UK]

I concur with sadukar, unfortunately on both points .. i get a bit impatient at times too , guess its a lesson you learn the hard way ,, your Wake is. was my conton is. fiasco ..

As a thought , i think there are some brit and indian engineer units that don;t have vehicles, maybe fly them over to china from ledo, china is very short on engineer squads full stop.

You 2 should meet up for a schnapps and nibbles night If London was closer i'd join you .. [:D]
[:D][:D]

[Sardaukar]

Beer & pretzels meetings between Finns tend to cause humongous hangovers [:D]. I bet that's nothing new to Brits either, tho...[8D].

Against AI I start my first invasions only when I've gotten few CVEs to protect the amphibious convoys. Dedicated landing ships help too. In 1942 as Allies I tend to play *very* defensively. 1943 is the payback time !

[aztez]

[:D][:D][:D] ... Sardaukars statement about the hangover is modest [;)] ...oh, and the British that I know drink just pure water [:D][:D][:D][:D]

...actually I'am still feeling miserable... Saturday is taking its toll (I'am getting way too old...[:(])

Agreed... I should wait for Hellcats to arrive... That will propably delay my major offensives few weeks or so but I think it's worth the wait.

Last turn was quiet.... only thing worth of reporting is that he did launch an airstrike againts Chengtu... [;)] .... and naturally the Japanese aircrafts were shot down like ducks [8D]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Chengtu , at 41,29

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 27

Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 13
Spitfire Vb x 27
P-40N Warhawk x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-45 KAIb Nick: 16 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire Vb: 1 damaged

...also it seems that he has brought Fighters to Baker Island... 52 planes spotted by my intelligence... next turn it is time start bombing runs againts that airfield ... hopefully he pays price for his actions.

The first US Naval Bombardment TF is also enroute to Baker Island... It is expected to hit island within a week or so.

[aztez]

Game date is 8th of April 1943


Burma & India

Gathering troops and supplies for upcoming plans.


Central & North Pacific


Japanese ASW ships caused heavy damage to SS Albacore [:(]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 55,42

Japanese Ships
DD Wakaba
DD Hatsushima
DD Suzukaze
DD Kawakaze
DD Tanikaze
DD Hamakaze

Allied Ships
SS Albacore, hits 2, on fire

...Troop deployments ongoing for upcoming assaults.

My LBA's did not bomb Baker Island this turn due to poor weather conditions.


China



Somehow there seems to be P40N's in Kumming [&:][&:][&:]... these ac's will be withdrawn.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kunming , at 39,33

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 16
G4M1 Betty x 79
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 117
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 14
Ki-49 Helen x 24

Allied aircraft
no flights

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
P-40N Warhawk: 4 destroyed
Spitfire Vb: 1 destroyed

Resources hits 8
Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 48

No ground combat to report....


Australia, NZ & South Pacific


The Japanese ground forces at Timor were hit hard again....

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 148th IJN Base Force, at 31,77

Allied aircraft
B-25J Mitchell x 43
B-17E Fortress x 57

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
133 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Yokosuka 3rd SNLF, at 31,77

Allied aircraft
B-25J Mitchell x 30
B-17E Fortress x 26

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
152 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 148th IJN Base Force, at 31,77

Allied aircraft
B-25J Mitchell x 13
B-17E Fortress x 21

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
39 casualties reported


Troop deployments also ongoing for future operations.

Nothing else major to report.

[ADavidB]

Somehow there seems to be P40N's in Kumming ... these ac's will be withdrawn.

The Chinese open-cockpit fighters upgrade to P-40Ns. Did you leave them with "upgrade" on?

Take care -

Dave Baranyi

[aztez]

No... allow upgrade was grey so I did not have option to set it do not upgrade... it seems that the remnants of the Chinese Fighters left behind have upgraded P40N's... there were actually just 2 fighters on ground but now I have 14 P40N's trapped... this time I turned the allow replacements on and hopefully I'am able to take 1 or planes out... so that I don't loose the whole squadron.

Also I did manage to destroy 29 Japanese planes on ground (Baker Island) but this action did not show up in Combat Reports... anyway, that is good news all together.

Btw... I do appreciate your comments ADavidB [:)]

I have now ordered night bombings againts Lunga to be started again... Also Gili Gili will be struck by night.

It's kind of hard to wait since I would like to get started with some Japanese ass kicking... but those Hellcats are a must and they are not yet delivered to my US Fleet.

The good thing is that there will be a lot of fighting going on soon enough!

It also seems that he has withdrawn some units from Kweiyang... 12 Units reported last turn and there has been as many as 18 units before... I have ordered bombardment attack this turn to see what his remaining troop strenght is!

[Rob Brennan UK]

Using LR cap from canton for your BB bombardments can be invaluable in case he has nells or betties at tarawa .. I think if you have speed 4 bombardments you can get in and out and not remain in torp range from tarawa .. another way to avaoid it is sail NE from Canton and then run in directly West .. would be unexpected at least. closing Baker is i think your next objective , its doable with 4E and BB's .. good luck.

Hello Adavid .. Welcome to this thread .. Yay im no longer outnumbered by finns [;)]

And Aztez .. whats water ? I drink Red wine mostly these days, many years ago it was 'real ale' .. scarily alcohilic beer.

and yes sadukar .. i remember the huge hangovers from weeekend binges with friends .. however getting older i can no longer sleep on floors and wake up feeling fine. [;)][:(]

[:(]

oh well .. good luck as always

[aztez]

Eherm... Those were the days Rob... Actually Guinness is the only beer that I don't have the taste for [:(].... everything else [:)]... but as you said those were the days....

Last turn was quite action packed....


Game date is 10th of April 1943


China


It seems he has nearly 200 000 men sieging Kweiyang so counter offensive is not an option at the moment.... way too many infantry troops there.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Kweiyang

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 5250 troops, 36 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 190558 troops, 1965 guns, 31 vehicles


Nothing else major to report... the usual bombing runs from Hanoi againts Kumming and Yunan happened again.


Central & North Pacific


Troop deployments ongoing... nothing major to report. [>:]


Burma & India


Same as above. [>:]


Australia, NZ & South Pacific


US Navy visited the Baker Island and this turned out nicely....

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1115 encounters mine field at Baker Island (94,92)

Allied Ships
DD Farenholt, Mine hits 1, on fire

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Baker Island, at 94,92 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 4 destroyed
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 2 destroyed

51 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
DD McCalla, Shell hits 1
DD Buchanan
DD Aaron Ward
DD Monssen, Shell hits 7, on fire
DD Taylor
DD Strong
DD Stanly
DD Saufley, Shell hits 2, on fire
CL Denver
CL Montpelier
CLAA San Juan
BB California
BB Maryland

Japanese ground losses:
1762 casualties reported [:D]
Guns lost 31

Airbase hits 18
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 120
Port hits 2
Port supply hits 4

... 1700 Japanese ground losses....!!!! That is excellent!

Allied bombers also caused a lot of damage to Japanese garrisons at Timor...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Yokosuka 3rd SNLF, at 31,77

Allied aircraft
B-25J Mitchell x 21
B-17E Fortress x 33

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
135 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kure 6th SNLF, at 31,77

Allied aircraft
B-25J Mitchell x 18
B-17E Fortress x 18

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
73 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

...More troops are also reaching Canton Island... Poor weather grounded the allied air assault againts Baker Island but the weather will improve in forthcoming days ahead.

LBA's hit also Lunga and catched couple of Japanese aircraft on the ground...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Lunga , at 67,97

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 36
PB4Y Liberator x 6
B-24D Liberator x 20

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 2 destroyed
A6M3a Zero: 4 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
PB4Y Liberator: 1 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 3 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 7

... all in all a good turn for allies...! [8D]

[aztez]

Game date is 12th of April 1943



India & Burma


Shifting supplies and building airfields... nothing major to report.


China


Those P40N's at Kumming are trapped... there is noway to get them out so I have turned the replacements option off from these aircrafts.

1 More P40N squadron flew from Luchow to Chungking... These pilots were in India training their new aircraft. At the moment there are 3 fully operational P40N squadrons stationed in China along with P40E's, Hurricanes and Spitfires.

..otherwise supplies, supplies and supplies (the supply situation remaining at good level)... zZzZzZZzZz.


Central & North Pacific


Troop deployments and supply convoys.

Operation Delfine resulted to 1 sunk Japanese MSW

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 53,43

Japanese Ships
MSW Hinode Maru #17, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
PC Ch 19
PC Ch 2
PC Shonan Maru #17
MSW Hinode Maru #18
MSW Banshu Maru #56
DD Inazuma
DD Hagikaze
DD Natsushio

Allied Ships
SS Tullibee


Australia, NZ & South Pacific


Baker Island was hit again by the US Navy...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Baker Island, at 94,92 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

96 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
DD McCalla, Shell hits 6, on fire
DD Buchanan
DD Strong
DD Stanly
CL Denver, Shell hits 1
CL Montpelier
CLAA San Juan
BB California, Shell hits 7
BB Maryland, Shell hits 6

Japanese ground losses:
185 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 16
Port hits 10
Port supply hits 7


...These two bombing runs resulted to 5 US DD's damaged and 1 DD had to be scuttled. These ships are now on their way to Canton Island.

Weather also permitted the air campaign againts Baker Island to continue...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Baker Island , at 94,92

Allied aircraft
PBY Catalina x 8
P-38G Lightning x 14
B-25J Mitchell x 78
PB4Y Liberator x 10
B-24D Liberator x 31

Allied aircraft losses
PBY Catalina: 1 damaged
B-25J Mitchell: 4 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
51 casualties reported

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 79

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Baker Island , at 94,92

Allied aircraft
PBY Catalina x 4
P-38G Lightning x 24
B-25J Mitchell x 69
PB4Y Liberator x 10
B-24D Liberator x 28

Allied aircraft losses
PBY Catalina: 1 damaged
B-25J Mitchell: 3 damaged
PB4Y Liberator: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
13 casualties reported

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 71

...poor weather grounded other allied assaults againts Timor and such.

Japanese are still training their pilots againts Kai Island and Woodlark Island... nothing I can do to stop them at the moment.