The Italian Job 2- Gen.Hoepner(J)-vs.-Mc3744

[String]

Allies can't send planes by turning them to SEAC in SF. They can only do it via shipping through the indian ocean.

[Andy Mac]

Or air transport accross Russia !!!! (This is gamey though)

[Tom Hunter]

Hey, that B24 is a medivac plane, your a WAR CRIMINAL!!!

[:D]

[Tom Hunter]

Hoepner,

Chinese casualties are worth less than Japanese casualties

Japanese casualties are worth less than European casualties

@!!$%$!! racist game developers.

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/13/42

Thanks Tom...now i understand[:(]
Those chinese units are a pain in the ***!!! They keep respawning at Chungking!!!!!!!!! Now 40 units are present there...one month ago they were 31[:(][:@]....almost 170,000 men...are becomming too much to handle...and the damned weather keep holding down my bombers...any real air campaign is almost interdicted[:-]

However, in IO now the target is clearly spotted. the DL should be quite high at the moment. At full speed ( see map) my light carrier division should intercept it tomorrow afternoon. No way he's gonna get through[8D]

Sideshow moves slowly...and Bora Bora reached level 3 Af and 4 port[:@]...by the time i will be there it's going to be at least 4-5....however the traffic in the pacific has decreased, so probably he won't spot be before i reach the Catalinas range ( 13 hexes)

His 4Es have been really quite for a while now...this scares me a bit...i wonder where he's going to hurt me next. Ledo is full of planes and i guess he's comming for a chinese AF. I have at least 130 fighters in each of my 3 major AF ( Hanoi, Kungchang and Kweyiang)..hope they'll be enough to stop any mass attack.

His subs are really becomming a danger in Bengal bay. Tons of them are placing mines everywhere and my MSWs rush from Port Blair to Sebang every turn....more MSWs are comming to Singapore.

My 4 CVs have almost reached Palau.





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Ground combat at Chungking

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 201377 troops, 2406 guns, 24 vehicles

Defending force 163149 troops, 784 guns, 49 vehicles[X(][X(][X(]



Allied ground losses:
29 casualties reported

[Gen.Hoepner]

ORIGINAL: String

Allies can't send planes by turning them to SEAC in SF. They can only do it via shipping through the indian ocean.

This is a good news indeed[:D]

[Gen.Hoepner]

ORIGINAL: Andy Mac

Or air transport accross Russia !!!! (This is gamey though)

we have an house rule for that. It's forbidden since the beginning of the game

[Gen.Hoepner]

In this rare picture you can see with which kind of troops the chinese are fighting us...they barely seem humans![:D] ( PROPAGANDA)

this picture has been stolen from a dead officer found beyond our lines at Chungking and shows what is probably the Manchurian Chinese Division

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/14/42

My light carrier division managed to sink a single AP that was trying to break through the indian ocean door. Few men were still afloat when AP Wanganella went beneath the waves. Sub I-65 arrived few minutes later and the order was to shot every single american alive!( Again, propaganda...do not take my words seriously plz).

For the rest nothing important happened. I got a Tony Sentai completely screwed up by a damned bug ( the parental unit is at Kungchang with 6 pilots and 36 planes, while the /1 fragment is at Shangai with 30 planes and 30 pilots-_-'').

Sideshow is going on as scheldued, even if i stopped my CVs at Palau...no fuel source[:o] gotta wait for the replenishment TF from Manila....[:@] I'm an idiot!


Still no sign of his CVs....wonder why he's not searching for my Carriers now that he has the avengers...i'd do that all the time at this stage!

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/15/42

Heavy traffic near Bora Bora... Is it possible that he decided to wake up when i decide to take the initiative in this area!??!?![:@][:@][:@][:@][:@][:@] Murphy's law.... However, spotted a convoy going from Bora Bora to Pago Pago...very strange indeed...is he invading!??! If so...where are his carriers and his BBs????...really do not read through the lines of his actual strategy[&:]

While in Burma and Bengal Bay his ideas are clear enough to my eyes. He wants Port Blair and probably his further step will be Sebang. Need some fighters at Seband...probably the next Tony sentai will be sent here if i only could find the time....
But i wonder how can he immagine to get to Port Blair and Sebang without his american carriers....ok, he can use fast transports for his troops and his 4Es to deal with my Navy, but ...com'on! I could bring there 4 divisions in less than 2 weeks and the whole KB in 3 weeks...with some 250 Nells and if needed more 200 zeros.....mmm.....He could try to move his CVs from Oz to India...that would be a risky move but at the moment i could not face it with my light carrier div.... ... however now IO seems to be clear of any enemy ship. The attention level remains high in this area anyway.

I'm starting to build a new strong point: Menado-Ambonia-Weda and ( do not remember the name[:D])... a kind of a first barrier against any push from Darwin to Mindanao. 4 bases with level 4 AFs, well supplied and with heavy forts ( ambonia has already 2 port,almost 5 AF and 6 forts)...

In China everything has slowed down...43 units at Chungking[:o][:-]...It's been rainy here for 5 days in a row....[:(] what a nasty place! My main 3 AFs now have each 150/180(50% zeros, 30% Tonies, 10% Nates, 10% Tojos) fighters on LRCAP 0 range, 150/200 bombers ( Sining, Lanchow,Chungking and Tsuyung as targets) and some 18 recce planes each. 250 AV points each obviously. Not bad.

Building up GeorgeTown and Sebang and moving here troops and base forces.





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TF 105 encounters mine field at Sabang (19,41)

Japanese Ships
MSW W.11
MSW W.8
MSW W.5
MSW W.4
MSW W.2
MSW W.1
PG Tatsumiya Maru, Mine hits 1, on fire

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/16/42

Ok, now i'm scared. The TF keeps heading northwards from Bora Bora to Pago Pago....or at least that one is the direction. Where the hell is he going!?!?!? My Ships for Sideshow are assembling near tarawa at the meeting point. Tomorrow will sail south. hope this mission won't become a disaster...still no sign of enemy CVs....

In China again bad weather...and tomorrow the forecast says thunderstorms...i just need a week of clear skies to close defentely every single chinese base.... however Chungking has been heavy plastered today[8D]
Seems that his Dakotas aren't flying anymore....my LR cap hasn't found anything for days now.

Everything else is quiet and boring



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Day Air attack on Chungking , at 43,32

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6
Ki-21 Sally x 196
Ki-49 Helen x 79
Ki-46-II Dinah x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 9 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 3 damaged


Allied ground losses:
478 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 22
Airbase supply hits 10
Runway hits 330[:'(][:D]

[Gen.Hoepner]

After Action report 08/17-18/42

Been very busy in these days. I won't post that much till sunday.

However, we lost contact with the TF heading for Pago Pago...i decided to send in advance my Carriers and my BBs towards Pago...just in case. The invasion force is moving, even if quite slowly southwards.
Tomorrow we'll start to recon Bora Bora and the first commandos should land at Tongaparu and Ha'pai in two days. It will be the first step of operation SideShow[8D]. Everything depends on how many units he has stacked at Bora Bora...i really miss the 16th Division...[:(]

The first and third carrier divisions were useless at Palau. Too far from everything! They're moving back towards Singapore where they will be used to counterattack any attempt of invading port Blair. I'm planning to move to Singapore in the next 2 weeks 3 divisions,3 artillery units and 2 Eng rgts under the command of the 2nd Army HQ. I feel he's comming to port Blair and i want to be ready!!!

Indian ocean is quiet now. my subs are patrolling along with one AV ( 12 float planes) and 18 Emilies from Christams IO

Oz....[>:]

In China i'm lacking of supplies almost everywhere...my units are suffering a lot, especially at Tsuyung...need the Chinese Exp HQ there asap!!! More 36 tonies are repairing at Hanoi and more 36 Tojos at Shangai...in 3 weeks i will be able to move back 4 zero sentais for new training programs, while their place will be occupied by the new modern IJA fighters.

Usual bombings in Burma. I'm rotating my units in and out of Rangoon.

nothing else

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/19/42

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TF 1081 encounters mine field at Port Blair (23,34)

Allied Ships
DD Decoy, Mine hits 1


This is the only news of the day[:D][:D][:D]



for the rest...

Sideshow will start officially tomorrow, with the landings of 14 commandos SNLF squads at ....( do not remember the name, see map plz[:'(]). 3 more subs with little special forces will puzzle his will conquering empty atolls all around Bora Bora. 2nd Carrier division is 3 days far from the first commandos, while the main invasion force is 5 days back.

the whole second army is moving to Singapore, along with my 1st and 3rd Carrier divisions( refuel at Batavia or Palembang).
The appearence of that DD which hit a mine means that he wants Port Blair and doesn't want me to mine it!

In China we started to move back the zeros from frontline bases. 27+9 are back training. Their job will be replaced by Tojos and Tonies.

Nothing more....boring summer[>:]

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/20/42


A very bad day for Yamamoto's plans.
Sideshow is FUBAR. Surprise is gone. I've been an idiot...went overconfident and got kicked.
One of my sub( I-159) was moving towards Tongarapu to unload a commando.An AP was following with 14 squads of the 2nd Sasebo SNLF....At first...during the night a HUGE ASW TF cought my sub who missed his torpedo attack....5 deep charges and it's gone...[:o]
Then, the SNLF commando lands and finds 3 units ( one Brigade!) waiting for them.... How was possible in the world that months of naval search with 18 Emilies higly exerienced didn't even noticed a single ship transfering these men or a single man on that little atoll?!?!?!?! However...now the surprise is gone. he's aware of my plans....he will probably bring his CVs in if they're close enough...will move mine in...and see...but probably the Bora Bora target is gone forever ( reached level 4 AF today)[:(][:(][:(]

In china he's using now his b-17s to resupply Chungking...9 zeros intercepted them and shoot down 2 in exchange of 1 zero...tomorrow Tojos will be on place!
No sign of his Dakotas...what's the plan?? bombers for supplies and dakotas for what?!?!

Hope in 10 days to start the last assault of Tsyung...as soon as some supplies arrive with the Chinese HQ...


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Sub attack near Tongarapu at 90,121

Japanese Ships
SS I-159, hits 5, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Ellet
DMS Hopkins
DD Talbot
APD Little
DD Chew
DD Litchfield
DD Allen
DD Monaghan
DD Dale
DD Worden
DD MacDonough
DD Hull
DD Farragut
DD Balch
DD Smith
DD Perkins
DD Cushing
DD Shaw
DD Conyngham
DD Stack
DD Lang
DD Benham
DD Henley
DD Mugford
DD Buchanan

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Coastal Guns at Tongarapu, 90,121, firing at TF 242
TF 242 troops unloading over beach at Tongarapu, 90,121


8 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese ground losses:
105 casualties reported

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Coastal Guns at Tongarapu, 90,121, firing at TF 242
TF 242 troops unloading over beach at Tongarapu, 90,121


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Ground combat at Tongarapu

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 646 troops, 3 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 551 troops, 2 guns, 0 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
21 casualties reported


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Ground combat at Tongarapu

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 518 troops, 2 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 7303 troops, 61 guns, 0 vehicles

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


Japanese ground losses:
108 casualties reported
Guns lost 1



the commando has been completely wiped out....[:o]

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORT 08/21/42

Now my 2nd Carrier Division is moving south. In 2 days will be close to Tongarapu. Will attempt some recon with float planes and the BBs will be ready to soften the place. I decided to go for this atoll. No way to get to Bora Bora under the present conditions. Sideshow is screwed up and if i can wipe out some more 7000 allies that can be a small victory that compensates, only in part, the failure of my bigger plan[:(]

Nothing happened in the other theatres.
In Burma he keeps on pounding my troops north of Rangoon. Intense naval activity between Akyab and Ramree Isl.
In China we're bombing daily Lanchow,Sining,Chungking ( now 47 units!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!![:@][:@][:@][X(][X(]) and Tsuyung. No allied transports intercepted today.

More base forces are flowing Towards Sumatra and Malaya.

16th army and the 5th Division are ready to be shipped from Darwin.

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/22/42


What seems to be another fast transport TF is moving from Bora Bora eastwards. So probably is directed towards Tongafarabu( sp!?!?).
The carrier div( still unseen) will move to intercept its route, while the BBs will move at Max speed in a surface TF mode in order to be there at night...just in case it will be too fast for the KB! Do not understand if he wants to reinforce the garrison or to evacuate it....however he won't succeed! The only question is....where are his CVs? gotta be carefull...

Another day of heavy air bombings in China. No transports intercepted today. He keeps bombing my troops in Burma. troops,HQs and supplies are flowing to Tsuyung.

submining ops at Onnekotan Jima and Paramushiro Jiima. I'm counter-minesweeping[;)]

Sebang and Georgetown are being fortified and built. base forces, HQs and CD guns are arriving.




This is the typical bombing-day in China[:D]
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Day Air attack on Tsuyung , at 37,31

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21 Sally x 85
Ki-49 Helen x 61
Ki-46-II Dinah x 6

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
160 casualties reported

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 127

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Day Air attack on Chungking , at 43,32

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 3
Ki-21 Sally x 203
Ki-49 Helen x 75
Ki-46-II Dinah x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 1 damaged


Allied ground losses:
438 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 16
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 241

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Day Air attack on Sining , at 45,23

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
Ki-21 Sally x 126
Ki-48 Lily x 29
Ki-49 Helen x 57
Ki-15 Babs x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48 Lily: 1 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 2 damaged


Allied ground losses:
7 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 180



17 brave men with one mortar conquered Ha'apai empty beach[;)]
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Ground combat at Ha'apai

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 17 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Ha'apai base !!!

[Gen.Hoepner]

08/23/42

the intercepting mission didn't go well. That damned TF is moving back towards Bora Bora and my CVs went too westwards:-(
Now he knows my BBs are in front of Tongarapu....he's not going to reinforce it[:D]

Nothing else for the moment...

[Gen.Hoepner]

8/24/42

Well, what was Sideshow now is called Red Castle. Its objectives are smaller than Sideshow's ones. Invade and eliminate the garrison at Tongarapu ( 1 Bde + 2 minor units). The 17th Army is 5/6 days far away. CVs and BBs will keep him away from any attempt of reinforcing the atoll. I fear his CVs...where are they!? No signs of them yet[&:][&:] Is he going to attack somewhere?....

In China we're just wating for some more supplies before beginning the last attack over Tsuyung. Now 3700 APs there.
He keeps flying B-17s over chungking. I cannot stop them with my zeros...but as long as he uses his 4Es to resupply the chinese units it's ok for me...it means he doesn't use them to attack my AF[:D]

Nothing else...just waiting and holding the breath

[Tom Hunter]

I would not be complaining about Mc's lack of offensive spirit. My feeling is that the longer the Allies wait to fight the better for the Japanese.

The Allies need to be intelligent about where and how they fight in the early game, but even against Mogami I have been able to do some damage and we are only in mid January.

All this time without offensive moves by the Americans is giving you the chance to build up supplies, defenses and quality air units. It is true that he is getting a lot of stuff too, but he gets it anyway. Enjoy the peaceful period while it lasts, and hope you can smash up his first offensive moves enough to extend it.

[Gen.Hoepner]

You're right Tom. I'm glad he hasn't come out yet. I'm already heavily fortified in the pacific and it won't be easy for him to move me out of paces like Tarawa or Bouganville.
However i fear his CVs now. With Avengers and the AA fire he can really stand a change against the whole KB.

8/25/42

another quiet day. 3 dakotas shot down over Tsuyung today and one IL-4c at the expense of 1 zero.
Tomorrow we'll try to use 20 Tojos as LRCAP over Chungking at 36,000 ft. Lets' see if i can shot down some of his b-17s
At Tsuyung i'm really lacking of supplies. Despite the arrive of the Chinese Exp HQ all my units are in red status[:(] I need some more supplies to close this theatre....

In Southern Pac the Red Castle Op is going on. He hasn't spotted my CVs yet. Today my carriers got refueled and now some fuel will be given to the BBs. I'd say 5 or 6 more days and the atoll will be ours. No sign of his CVs...not yet...

Everywhere else is quiet.

16th Div arrived at Truk,while the 7th div and the 35th Bde are stationed at Singapore under the command of the 2nd Army.