I don't have a problem with supply over the beaches, it worked for the Allies at Normandy.
I am having a problem with my own supply over the beaches, I put the Australian 4th division ashore at Efate and it has zero supply. I have 3 AKs unloading offshore but the supply does not seem to be making it. More on that in my next report.
Mogami is likely to be having some supply problems, not so much because of the beach as because of the bombing attacks on his ships that are sitting off the beach. His total ships lost has increased by 11 vessels in the last 4 days and many others have been damaged.
He does have 128,000 troops ashore so I am not sure what will happen when he attacks next. I just tried turning fort construction off at Port Moresby, hopefully that will start the guys entrenching again after I turn it back on in a day.
I do have a small force in the hex to the West of PM so maybe the Australians will retreat rather than surrender.
US CVs are a couple of days out from Suva, KB has vanished.
Lunacy In The Pacific Mogami Vs. Tom Hunter
Moderators: wdolson, Don Bowen, mogami
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Tom Hunter
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- Joined: Tue Dec 14, 2004 1:57 am
August 8 42
This is a screenshot of the main SEAC army at Akyab. Most of these troops are marching towards Mandalay where they will join up with another 800 AP and then head South.
Given that it is August 7th these troops should actually be in position by some time in early September.
Given that it is August 7th these troops should actually be in position by some time in early September.
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Tom Hunter
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RE: August 7 42
The Japanese launched another shock attack on Port Moresby, fortunately the place held though the fort went down by 1. I am hoping that the diggers will start digging and fixing the fort, I turned construction off and back on to help get this started again. Very frustrating to lose a place for that reason.
Ground combat at Port Moresby
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 124094 troops, 1083 guns, 188 vehicles
Defending force 25967 troops, 195 guns, 10 vehicles
Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 3
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 3)
Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 3
Japanese ground losses:
2606 casualties reported
Guns lost 50
Vehicles lost 4
Allied ground losses:
768 casualties reported
Guns lost 29
Vehicles lost 4
Allied bombers continued to do their bit to intterrupt Japanese supplies, this was the big attack for the day:
Allied aircraft
Hudson I x 35
B-17E Fortress x 17
B-24D Liberator x 36
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
AP Kunimitsu Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Anrugu Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP Azuchi Maru
AP Chojun Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Keizan Maru, Bomb hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
AP Choko Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Minowa Maru
AP Arugun Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Kureha Maru #3
AP Kaedesan Maru
AK Yuki Maru
AP Nichiryu Maru
AP Dainiunyo Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Hokutatsu Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Yoshinogawa Maru
AP Tsuruga Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP Banshu Maru #21
AP Jinsai Maru
AP Kyuma Maru
The US CVs are within a day or two (depending on the TF) of Suva. They are going to support the landing of a USMC division, a tank battalion and some artillery on Efate then head toward PM to get involved there. A US RCT is also on the way, it is on ship South of Noumea.
Close to Port Moresby a group of 13 PT boats is going to arrive in a turn or two. That should create some chaos in the Japanese anchorage.
Ground combat at Port Moresby
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 124094 troops, 1083 guns, 188 vehicles
Defending force 25967 troops, 195 guns, 10 vehicles
Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 3
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 3)
Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 3
Japanese ground losses:
2606 casualties reported
Guns lost 50
Vehicles lost 4
Allied ground losses:
768 casualties reported
Guns lost 29
Vehicles lost 4
Allied bombers continued to do their bit to intterrupt Japanese supplies, this was the big attack for the day:
Allied aircraft
Hudson I x 35
B-17E Fortress x 17
B-24D Liberator x 36
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
AP Kunimitsu Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Anrugu Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP Azuchi Maru
AP Chojun Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Keizan Maru, Bomb hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
AP Choko Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Minowa Maru
AP Arugun Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Kureha Maru #3
AP Kaedesan Maru
AK Yuki Maru
AP Nichiryu Maru
AP Dainiunyo Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Hokutatsu Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Yoshinogawa Maru
AP Tsuruga Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP Banshu Maru #21
AP Jinsai Maru
AP Kyuma Maru
The US CVs are within a day or two (depending on the TF) of Suva. They are going to support the landing of a USMC division, a tank battalion and some artillery on Efate then head toward PM to get involved there. A US RCT is also on the way, it is on ship South of Noumea.
Close to Port Moresby a group of 13 PT boats is going to arrive in a turn or two. That should create some chaos in the Japanese anchorage.
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RE: August 7 42
Close to Port Moresby a group of 13 PT boats is going to arrive in a turn or two. That should create some chaos in the Japanese anchorage.
BTW - aside from the few PT boats you get at the beginning of the game, and the few reinforcements that arrive in the first couple of months, when does the Allied PT boat construction kick in?
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Tom Hunter
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- Joined: Tue Dec 14, 2004 1:57 am
RE: August 7 42
These PTs are new construction, they start to appear in July.
I am trying hard not to throw them away, sure PTs are expendable but I want to expend them hurting the enemy. I do think that sending a whole mess of them into the Japanese transports off Port Moresby is a good use.
I am trying hard not to throw them away, sure PTs are expendable but I want to expend them hurting the enemy. I do think that sending a whole mess of them into the Japanese transports off Port Moresby is a good use.
RE: August 7 42
Do PT Boats respawn after 6 months ?
I agree use them if he doesnt have DD's protecting those transports it will hurt
I agree use them if he doesnt have DD's protecting those transports it will hurt
RE: August 7 42
These PTs are new construction, they start to appear in July.
Oh goody!![:D] I just reached July 2 1942...
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Tom Hunter
- Posts: 2194
- Joined: Tue Dec 14, 2004 1:57 am
RE: August 7 42
PT boats don't respawn they produce kind of like aircraft. You get a bunch every month.
Tensions rise in the South Pacific as KB is identified at Luganville. If you look at the map you will see an aircraft symbol at Vanikolo, Marine raiders were dropped there by APD when the Efate landing started and then PBYs flew in. Akagi was sighted by the PBYs so this is the real deal.
4 of the US CVs are at Suva, 2 more arrive today. Maybe there will be a confrontation.
The Aussies are starting to pound the Japs on the island too:
Ground combat at Efate
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 11009 troops, 119 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 9732 troops, 8 guns, 0 vehicles
Japanese ground losses:
128 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Supply is now good and more is unloading. When 1st Marines arrives with the tanks I will assualt and take the base.
Meantime over at Port Moresby the Japanese have withdrawn the transports but left the army. Can they grab it before help arrives?
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Tom Hunter
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Augsut 7 or there abouts 42
The war moves into high gear.
In China the RAF and the Japanese decide to figure out who really rules the skies on August 4th as a carefully assembled force of 140 Zeros comes after the CAP over Changsha:
Day Air attack on Changsha , at 47,36
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 74
A6M3 Zero x 54
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1
Allied aircraft
Mohawk IV x 13
CW-21B Demon x 10
Hurricane II x 18
Spitfire Vb x 13
P-40B Tomahawk x 30
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 58 destroyed
A6M3 Zero: 20 destroyed, 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Mohawk IV: 10 destroyed
CW-21B Demon: 5 destroyed
Hurricane II: 10 destroyed
Spitfire Vb: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged
P-40B Tomahawk: 17 destroyed
A major victory for the Allies as the Japanese lose 78 to 45 in spite of outnumbering the Allied planes by almost 2 to 1 at the start.
Meantime in the South West Pacific the Japanese continue to send troops to Port Moresby and the Allies have an ever growing force of aircrafter attempting to interfere.
On August 2nd the airfield at PM was in good repair so the Allies prepared an ambush:
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 23
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 26
Ki-21 Sally x 24
Ki-49 Helen x 26
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 3
P-40B Tomahawk x 7
P-40E Warhawk x 63
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 10 destroyed
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 26 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 8 destroyed
Ki-49 Helen: 8 destroyed, 6 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 damaged
P-40B Tomahawk: 6 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 7 destroyed, 12 damaged
52 Japs down compared with 14 Allied, a solid step in the right direction.[:)]
The same day there are numerous strikes on Japanese shipping some are not successful but this one was:Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 2
Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 34
No Japanese losses
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
AK Shingetsu Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Etashima Maru, Bomb hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
AK Ina Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
ML Hoko
Japanese ground losses:
85 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 4
It is also a nice example of catching the troops before they start to unload.
Finally in India the British and Dutch launch a major raid on Moulmein to further stress the Japanese defense. Not many planes were lost on either side but the 40 odd Oscars flying CAP did not even slow down the 90 B25s that did 77 hits on the airfield. For the rest of the period covered in this narrative British and Dutch bombers are pounding targets in Burma.
On the 3rd the Allies start the invasion of Efate:
TF 1171 encounters mine field at Efate (73,109)
TF 1171 troops unloading over beach at Efate, 73,109
Allied Ships
MSW Oriole
DD Schley
Coastal Guns at Efate, 73,109, firing at TF 1171
71 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
AP Van Neck, Shell hits 1
PG Niagara, Shell hits 3, on fire
MSW Oriole
Allied ground losses:
622 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
Months of bombardment do help, this force is half the size of the force defending Port Moresby but fired only one tenth the guns at the invasion force.
Unfortuately for me I violated the most important rule of invasions, TAKE YOUR TIME ORGANIZING. I was busy and rushing around with other stuff, so I screwed up the Marine division that was supposed to land with the Aussies and it it still on transports instead of ashore. More on that as our chronology continues.
At the same time the Japanes send a large force to regain control of the air over Port Moresby:
apanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 74
G3M Nell x 86
G4M1 Betty x 65
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 3
Kittyhawk I x 10
P-40B Tomahawk x 4
P-40E Warhawk x 25
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 9 destroyed, 1 damaged
G3M Nell: 4 destroyed, 4 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 3 destroyed
Kittyhawk I: 7 destroyed
P-40B Tomahawk: 5 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 15 destroyed
Beaufort V-IX: 1 destroyed
30 to 15 in Japan's favor [:@] too much for me, the Allies pull the fighter back. Still it was good to give the Japs a bloody nose over the last two days.
Allied planes continue pounding the Japanese transports on thier way in and out of Port Moresby inflicting 8 bomb hits on 5 different ships.
On the 4th the big battle is over Changsha, but on the 5th the Allied airforce goes back into action near PM scoring 12 hits on 8 different ships.
At Efate the last of the Aussies come ashore, to my horror they have no supply even though there are 3 AKs sitting in the hex unloading supplies for them. I am going to have to get better at invasions.
KB vanished from the radar on August 4th so the RN forces and US BB group head South toward Aukland at full speed. At the most KB will get a few transports loaded with supply.
The US Navy CVs are between Pago Pago and Suva, when they get on the scene the 1st USMC divisions, a tank battalion and some additional units will be landed at Efate and start to try to take the island from the 9,000 Japanese defenders.
At the same time a US RCT is heading to Brisbane. It will be sent North from there in an effort to get more ground troops to Port Moresby. It will be covered by the full Allied fleet if the attempt is made.
There are now 128,000 Japanese outside of PM and 20,000 Aussies in it. If the Aussies can hold on for 3 weeks the Allied relief effort will go it and maybe we will see a big CV battle.
Of course the Japanese might try to stop the Allies from taking Efate which will cause a battle sooner, we will see.
In China the RAF and the Japanese decide to figure out who really rules the skies on August 4th as a carefully assembled force of 140 Zeros comes after the CAP over Changsha:
Day Air attack on Changsha , at 47,36
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 74
A6M3 Zero x 54
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1
Allied aircraft
Mohawk IV x 13
CW-21B Demon x 10
Hurricane II x 18
Spitfire Vb x 13
P-40B Tomahawk x 30
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 58 destroyed
A6M3 Zero: 20 destroyed, 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Mohawk IV: 10 destroyed
CW-21B Demon: 5 destroyed
Hurricane II: 10 destroyed
Spitfire Vb: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged
P-40B Tomahawk: 17 destroyed
A major victory for the Allies as the Japanese lose 78 to 45 in spite of outnumbering the Allied planes by almost 2 to 1 at the start.
Meantime in the South West Pacific the Japanese continue to send troops to Port Moresby and the Allies have an ever growing force of aircrafter attempting to interfere.
On August 2nd the airfield at PM was in good repair so the Allies prepared an ambush:
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 23
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 26
Ki-21 Sally x 24
Ki-49 Helen x 26
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 3
P-40B Tomahawk x 7
P-40E Warhawk x 63
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 10 destroyed
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 26 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 8 destroyed
Ki-49 Helen: 8 destroyed, 6 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 damaged
P-40B Tomahawk: 6 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 7 destroyed, 12 damaged
52 Japs down compared with 14 Allied, a solid step in the right direction.[:)]
The same day there are numerous strikes on Japanese shipping some are not successful but this one was:Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 2
Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 34
No Japanese losses
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
AK Shingetsu Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Etashima Maru, Bomb hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
AK Ina Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
ML Hoko
Japanese ground losses:
85 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 4
It is also a nice example of catching the troops before they start to unload.
Finally in India the British and Dutch launch a major raid on Moulmein to further stress the Japanese defense. Not many planes were lost on either side but the 40 odd Oscars flying CAP did not even slow down the 90 B25s that did 77 hits on the airfield. For the rest of the period covered in this narrative British and Dutch bombers are pounding targets in Burma.
On the 3rd the Allies start the invasion of Efate:
TF 1171 encounters mine field at Efate (73,109)
TF 1171 troops unloading over beach at Efate, 73,109
Allied Ships
MSW Oriole
DD Schley
Coastal Guns at Efate, 73,109, firing at TF 1171
71 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
AP Van Neck, Shell hits 1
PG Niagara, Shell hits 3, on fire
MSW Oriole
Allied ground losses:
622 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
Months of bombardment do help, this force is half the size of the force defending Port Moresby but fired only one tenth the guns at the invasion force.
Unfortuately for me I violated the most important rule of invasions, TAKE YOUR TIME ORGANIZING. I was busy and rushing around with other stuff, so I screwed up the Marine division that was supposed to land with the Aussies and it it still on transports instead of ashore. More on that as our chronology continues.
At the same time the Japanes send a large force to regain control of the air over Port Moresby:
apanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 74
G3M Nell x 86
G4M1 Betty x 65
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 3
Kittyhawk I x 10
P-40B Tomahawk x 4
P-40E Warhawk x 25
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 9 destroyed, 1 damaged
G3M Nell: 4 destroyed, 4 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 3 destroyed
Kittyhawk I: 7 destroyed
P-40B Tomahawk: 5 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 15 destroyed
Beaufort V-IX: 1 destroyed
30 to 15 in Japan's favor [:@] too much for me, the Allies pull the fighter back. Still it was good to give the Japs a bloody nose over the last two days.
Allied planes continue pounding the Japanese transports on thier way in and out of Port Moresby inflicting 8 bomb hits on 5 different ships.
On the 4th the big battle is over Changsha, but on the 5th the Allied airforce goes back into action near PM scoring 12 hits on 8 different ships.
At Efate the last of the Aussies come ashore, to my horror they have no supply even though there are 3 AKs sitting in the hex unloading supplies for them. I am going to have to get better at invasions.
KB vanished from the radar on August 4th so the RN forces and US BB group head South toward Aukland at full speed. At the most KB will get a few transports loaded with supply.
The US Navy CVs are between Pago Pago and Suva, when they get on the scene the 1st USMC divisions, a tank battalion and some additional units will be landed at Efate and start to try to take the island from the 9,000 Japanese defenders.
At the same time a US RCT is heading to Brisbane. It will be sent North from there in an effort to get more ground troops to Port Moresby. It will be covered by the full Allied fleet if the attempt is made.
There are now 128,000 Japanese outside of PM and 20,000 Aussies in it. If the Aussies can hold on for 3 weeks the Allied relief effort will go it and maybe we will see a big CV battle.
Of course the Japanese might try to stop the Allies from taking Efate which will cause a battle sooner, we will see.
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Tom Hunter
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- Joined: Tue Dec 14, 2004 1:57 am
August 10 42
China
Things begin to look interesting as 28 Japanese ground units head North on the Coastal Rail line. Chinese troops move towards Kaigan in response.
Mogami also takes a shot at murdering my air force. 32 Mohawks had moved to Kwelin, yesterday I moved them to Wuchow to intercept a daily dive bombing attack on the city. Good thing too, this is what flew over Kwielin:
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27
A6M3 Zero x 53
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 36
Ki-30 Ann x 43
Not safe for Mohawks that's for sure. The planes bugged out and are now at Changsha with a Spitfire group and a Hurricane group.
Nothing much in India - Burma except continued unloading of supplies and troops.
Port Moresby gets a bombardment attack that does 98 casualties, then shoots back and does 107. The fort is L1 at 25% but at least they are working on it.
Further South the US 37th division is on transports off of Brisbane. I am sending them North with the intention of unloading at Port Moresby.
Then to the map:
Pallisers is once again in command of Prince of Wales, Repulse and a number of elite Cruisers and Destroyers. He is heading West to cover the landing of the 37th division.
The US CVs are going to join the RN CVs in the hex with all the AOs, then I am going to have a staring contest with Mogami. I might decide to unload the Marine division or the armor on Efate but I may just leave the Aussies there for the moment.
This is the blocking force that I hope will keep KB's attention while more stuff heads for Port Moresby. Of course PM may fall in the meantime but if it lasts another 10 days it will not fall at all. I'm not sure this will work because the forts there have been rebuilding so slowly and Mogami has so many troops, but he also has some supply problems and is in a Malarial zone so maybe things will work out for the Allies.
If PM does fall I am considering putting the US division into Thursday Island. It might be possible to keep Thursday and turn PM into a running sore for the Japanese.
Net, there are a lot of options some controlled by the Allies others by the Japanese.
Things begin to look interesting as 28 Japanese ground units head North on the Coastal Rail line. Chinese troops move towards Kaigan in response.
Mogami also takes a shot at murdering my air force. 32 Mohawks had moved to Kwelin, yesterday I moved them to Wuchow to intercept a daily dive bombing attack on the city. Good thing too, this is what flew over Kwielin:
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27
A6M3 Zero x 53
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 36
Ki-30 Ann x 43
Not safe for Mohawks that's for sure. The planes bugged out and are now at Changsha with a Spitfire group and a Hurricane group.
Nothing much in India - Burma except continued unloading of supplies and troops.
Port Moresby gets a bombardment attack that does 98 casualties, then shoots back and does 107. The fort is L1 at 25% but at least they are working on it.
Further South the US 37th division is on transports off of Brisbane. I am sending them North with the intention of unloading at Port Moresby.
Then to the map:
Pallisers is once again in command of Prince of Wales, Repulse and a number of elite Cruisers and Destroyers. He is heading West to cover the landing of the 37th division.
The US CVs are going to join the RN CVs in the hex with all the AOs, then I am going to have a staring contest with Mogami. I might decide to unload the Marine division or the armor on Efate but I may just leave the Aussies there for the moment.
This is the blocking force that I hope will keep KB's attention while more stuff heads for Port Moresby. Of course PM may fall in the meantime but if it lasts another 10 days it will not fall at all. I'm not sure this will work because the forts there have been rebuilding so slowly and Mogami has so many troops, but he also has some supply problems and is in a Malarial zone so maybe things will work out for the Allies.
If PM does fall I am considering putting the US division into Thursday Island. It might be possible to keep Thursday and turn PM into a running sore for the Japanese.
Net, there are a lot of options some controlled by the Allies others by the Japanese.
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Tom Hunter
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August 13 42
China
The Japanese and Chinese continue moving troops North and on the 13th a Chinese army starts East from Kaifeng to the coastal railroad junction. No air combat but Changsha has 24 Spits, 32 Hurricanes and 48 Mohawks now.
India - Burma continues the long slow process of building up for an offensive. 2 Japanese ground units move North from Rangoon, get bombed for thier trouble and then move back.
SouthWest Pacific.
Ground combat at Port Moresby on August 10th
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 121574 troops, 1001 guns, 174 vehicles
Defending force 24261 troops, 140 guns, 2 vehicles
Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 1)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Port Moresby base !!!
Allied aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 6 destroyed
Japanese ground losses:
1943 casualties reported
Guns lost 37
Vehicles lost 8
Allied ground losses:
39601 casualties reported
Guns lost 160
That just about says it all.
Earlier the same day Allied bombers ran an air suppression mission against Lae:
Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 48
B-24D Liberator x 48
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 6 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 9 destroyed
G3M Nell: 10 destroyed
Ki-46-II Dinah: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 8 damaged
The next day they put 127 hits on the Japanese airbase at PM, then stood down to rest.
A big American base force is going to Cooktown which is well on its way to L6 airbase. The US 27th Division is going to move into Thursday Island which is 84% of the way to an L3 airbase. Prince of Wales and Repulse are also moving into the area.
The plan is to shut Port Moresby airfield from Thursday and Cooktown, much as Efate and Luganville were shut from Noumea, Koumac and La Foa. Ideally the 6 Japanese divisions in Port Moresby will never get out. There might be some major naval battles as a result of this strategy, but Mogami and I have a record of watching eachother carefully without committing the CVs.
They Key is Thursday, if the Allies can keep it then Port Morsbey can be hit by Kittyhawk and P40Es on Sweep missions and it can be LR CAPed with P38s when time comes to invade the place.
South Pacific
Allied airraids on Luganville and Efate continue to pound both islands. KB comes South and bombs a couple of AKs that were unloading supplies for the Australians on Efate.
Here is a raid on Luganville:
Allied aircraft
Hudson I x 1
B-25C Mitchell x 44
B-24D Liberator x 49
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
148 casualties reported
Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 65
And massive overkill on the an AK:
apanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 109
D3A Val x 22
B5N Kate x 18
No Japanese losses
Allied Ships
AK Alcyone, Bomb hits 6, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
On the 11th the Australians tried to throw the Japanese out of Efate base but were unsuccessful:
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 11275 troops, 122 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 9376 troops, 14 guns, 0 vehicles
Allied assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese ground losses:
47 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Allied ground losses:
152 casualties reported
Guns lost 5
Interestingly on the next day bombers flying ground attack started hitting a Japanese base force instead of the SNLF unit that they had been bombing.
The Aussies are in good supply and have gone back to bombardment attacks while the Allied fleet prepares another landing. A marine division, 2 artillery units, and a base force are coming in the next wave. They will be in one big convoy with 9 CVs covering and a BB group providing shore bombardment.
KB has moved North to Vanikolo, the Allied Carrier fleet is 5 hexes out from Noumea and heading for port to reload the ammo storage of the British CVs.
Lifou is an L1 airbase 2% on the way to L2, with 60 AV and about that number of Wildcats flying CAP over the USS Colorado. This was bait for KB but it is also a good jump off position for shore bombardments and invasions. I doubt that I will try to develop dot bases again, it just takes too much time, but Lifou is turning out to be somewhat useful even though Allied hopes for a base that would give us fighter cover over Efate have not been realized.
The Japanese and Chinese continue moving troops North and on the 13th a Chinese army starts East from Kaifeng to the coastal railroad junction. No air combat but Changsha has 24 Spits, 32 Hurricanes and 48 Mohawks now.
India - Burma continues the long slow process of building up for an offensive. 2 Japanese ground units move North from Rangoon, get bombed for thier trouble and then move back.
SouthWest Pacific.
Ground combat at Port Moresby on August 10th
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 121574 troops, 1001 guns, 174 vehicles
Defending force 24261 troops, 140 guns, 2 vehicles
Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 1)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Port Moresby base !!!
Allied aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 6 destroyed
Japanese ground losses:
1943 casualties reported
Guns lost 37
Vehicles lost 8
Allied ground losses:
39601 casualties reported
Guns lost 160
That just about says it all.
Earlier the same day Allied bombers ran an air suppression mission against Lae:
Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 48
B-24D Liberator x 48
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 6 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 9 destroyed
G3M Nell: 10 destroyed
Ki-46-II Dinah: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 8 damaged
The next day they put 127 hits on the Japanese airbase at PM, then stood down to rest.
A big American base force is going to Cooktown which is well on its way to L6 airbase. The US 27th Division is going to move into Thursday Island which is 84% of the way to an L3 airbase. Prince of Wales and Repulse are also moving into the area.
The plan is to shut Port Moresby airfield from Thursday and Cooktown, much as Efate and Luganville were shut from Noumea, Koumac and La Foa. Ideally the 6 Japanese divisions in Port Moresby will never get out. There might be some major naval battles as a result of this strategy, but Mogami and I have a record of watching eachother carefully without committing the CVs.
They Key is Thursday, if the Allies can keep it then Port Morsbey can be hit by Kittyhawk and P40Es on Sweep missions and it can be LR CAPed with P38s when time comes to invade the place.
South Pacific
Allied airraids on Luganville and Efate continue to pound both islands. KB comes South and bombs a couple of AKs that were unloading supplies for the Australians on Efate.
Here is a raid on Luganville:
Allied aircraft
Hudson I x 1
B-25C Mitchell x 44
B-24D Liberator x 49
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
148 casualties reported
Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 65
And massive overkill on the an AK:
apanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 109
D3A Val x 22
B5N Kate x 18
No Japanese losses
Allied Ships
AK Alcyone, Bomb hits 6, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
On the 11th the Australians tried to throw the Japanese out of Efate base but were unsuccessful:
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 11275 troops, 122 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 9376 troops, 14 guns, 0 vehicles
Allied assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese ground losses:
47 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Allied ground losses:
152 casualties reported
Guns lost 5
Interestingly on the next day bombers flying ground attack started hitting a Japanese base force instead of the SNLF unit that they had been bombing.
The Aussies are in good supply and have gone back to bombardment attacks while the Allied fleet prepares another landing. A marine division, 2 artillery units, and a base force are coming in the next wave. They will be in one big convoy with 9 CVs covering and a BB group providing shore bombardment.
KB has moved North to Vanikolo, the Allied Carrier fleet is 5 hexes out from Noumea and heading for port to reload the ammo storage of the British CVs.
Lifou is an L1 airbase 2% on the way to L2, with 60 AV and about that number of Wildcats flying CAP over the USS Colorado. This was bait for KB but it is also a good jump off position for shore bombardments and invasions. I doubt that I will try to develop dot bases again, it just takes too much time, but Lifou is turning out to be somewhat useful even though Allied hopes for a base that would give us fighter cover over Efate have not been realized.
-
Tom Hunter
- Posts: 2194
- Joined: Tue Dec 14, 2004 1:57 am
August 16 42
Instead of going around the map I am going to focus on my screwed up invasion of Efate. It has not been a disaster but it certainly could have been and I certainly need to do a better job next time. Maybe this will help some one else avoid problems in the future as well.
Efate has been the target of a planned Allied invasion almost since the day it fell back in April. The airbase, port and ground units have been bombed regularly for 2 months here is an attack from June 17 42:
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 25
Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 83
LB-30 Liberator x 35
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 8 destroyed, 10 damaged
Ki-46-II Dinah: 2 destroyed
B5N Kate: 7 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 8 damaged
LB-30 Liberator: 1 destroyed, 10 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
201 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 7
Runway hits 48
By the end of June the Japanese were nolonger basing fighters at Efate and there has not been a single ship making the port thier since May. Allied Warships have also bombarded the island on close to a dozen seperate occasions. Supply is low and disruptions are high.
In late July with the US CVs coming South from Pearl Harbor and Port Moresby in dire need of any possible diversion of Japanese strength the Allies started loading for the invasion of Efate. The initial invasion force was 2 divisions, 4th Australian and 1st USMC in two convoys.
This was my first mistake in a number of ways.
1) Two convoys should have been one big convoy
2) No base forces
3) Artillery and a tank battalion could have been in the first wave as well
4) Supply? who needs it? [:@]
When the convoys reached their jump off point near Efate I screwed up again, I was rushing to finish a turn and did not set the USMC division to patrol/do not retire so it reached jump off and then went home. Knowing Efate was weak I sent the Aussies and figured the Marines would catch up.
The Aussies did unload successfully, no more than 70 shots were fired per phase by the Japanese and even the ship that hit a mine came through. A supply convoy arrived a day or two later and got thier supply from zero to 8000 over the course of 4-5 days.
One smart move I made was grabbing Vanikolo and putting PBYs there. This gave me enough warning of an univited guest heading South to my party, KB was on the way.
All the Allied naval forces in the area and the USMC division headed South at full speed. The US CVs were too far away to get into combat so running was the wisest course of action. KB sunk a few AKs off Efate and then retired North. They may even be heading to Japan for refits since all of the CVs have one on the schedule.
On August 11th the Australians tried a deleberate attack and got zero to 1 odds. 75 Casualties for Japan, 150 for Australia. Not bad but not winning either so they reverted back to bombarding while the airforce and navy did the same.
Now it is August 16th, KB has left the area and the Allies are trying again. The Marines arrived off shore but did not start to unload, I hope they will get moving next turn. The Colorado group did bombard Naval bombardment of Efate, at 73,109
Allied Ships
DD Gilmer
CL Raleigh
DD Kilty
DD Worden
DD Blue
CL Nashville
CL Detroit
DD Hatfield
DD Bagley
CA Salt Lake City
DD Edsall
CL Concord
CA Houston
BB Colorado
Japanese ground losses:
697 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 64
Port hits 3
Port supply hits 7
This helped some and they have orders to do it again as the Marines unload. The Colorado will head for Noumea then and be replaced by the North Carolina. Sommervilles TF is a secret so it will not bombard, Prince of Wales and Repulse are near Cairns now, so BB bombardment is provided by US BBs and many other Allied ships.
My convoys are still a mess, I screwed up loading and have two seperate convoys bringing up the artillery, base force and supplies, or 3 in total if you include the Marines. Next time I do this your going to see one big lump of transports much like the CV TF group that I have managed to operate successfully.
Still Efate is down to 7500 active defenders, they had 9500 when the Aussies attacked on the 11th. By the time everyone unloads it will be August 21st or 22nd and a few more attacks will quickly push the Japanese off the base.
What have I learned?
Coordinate the invasion much better next time. Efate could have been Allied on August 11th if I had done it right. Doing it wrong is VERY dangerous because it gives the enemy time to organize a counter attack, or if his position is strong he can out and out defeat the invasion. As the US Navy knew during the war long invasions leave the supporting naval forces terribly exposed.
On the bright side I have also learned that a plan that included bombing and bombarding for a long time gives the Allies a much easier time invading. Don't try to suprise Japan, they know your coming.
A little bit of proof that months of bombardment and cutting the enemy off from supply can make a landing much easier. This is the 1st USMC going ashore:
Coastal Guns at Efate, 73,109, firing at TF 1211
TF 1211 troops unloading over beach at Efate, 73,109
1 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied ground losses:
338 casualties reported
Efate has been the target of a planned Allied invasion almost since the day it fell back in April. The airbase, port and ground units have been bombed regularly for 2 months here is an attack from June 17 42:
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 25
Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 83
LB-30 Liberator x 35
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 8 destroyed, 10 damaged
Ki-46-II Dinah: 2 destroyed
B5N Kate: 7 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 8 damaged
LB-30 Liberator: 1 destroyed, 10 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
201 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 7
Runway hits 48
By the end of June the Japanese were nolonger basing fighters at Efate and there has not been a single ship making the port thier since May. Allied Warships have also bombarded the island on close to a dozen seperate occasions. Supply is low and disruptions are high.
In late July with the US CVs coming South from Pearl Harbor and Port Moresby in dire need of any possible diversion of Japanese strength the Allies started loading for the invasion of Efate. The initial invasion force was 2 divisions, 4th Australian and 1st USMC in two convoys.
This was my first mistake in a number of ways.
1) Two convoys should have been one big convoy
2) No base forces
3) Artillery and a tank battalion could have been in the first wave as well
4) Supply? who needs it? [:@]
When the convoys reached their jump off point near Efate I screwed up again, I was rushing to finish a turn and did not set the USMC division to patrol/do not retire so it reached jump off and then went home. Knowing Efate was weak I sent the Aussies and figured the Marines would catch up.
The Aussies did unload successfully, no more than 70 shots were fired per phase by the Japanese and even the ship that hit a mine came through. A supply convoy arrived a day or two later and got thier supply from zero to 8000 over the course of 4-5 days.
One smart move I made was grabbing Vanikolo and putting PBYs there. This gave me enough warning of an univited guest heading South to my party, KB was on the way.
All the Allied naval forces in the area and the USMC division headed South at full speed. The US CVs were too far away to get into combat so running was the wisest course of action. KB sunk a few AKs off Efate and then retired North. They may even be heading to Japan for refits since all of the CVs have one on the schedule.
On August 11th the Australians tried a deleberate attack and got zero to 1 odds. 75 Casualties for Japan, 150 for Australia. Not bad but not winning either so they reverted back to bombarding while the airforce and navy did the same.
Now it is August 16th, KB has left the area and the Allies are trying again. The Marines arrived off shore but did not start to unload, I hope they will get moving next turn. The Colorado group did bombard Naval bombardment of Efate, at 73,109
Allied Ships
DD Gilmer
CL Raleigh
DD Kilty
DD Worden
DD Blue
CL Nashville
CL Detroit
DD Hatfield
DD Bagley
CA Salt Lake City
DD Edsall
CL Concord
CA Houston
BB Colorado
Japanese ground losses:
697 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 64
Port hits 3
Port supply hits 7
This helped some and they have orders to do it again as the Marines unload. The Colorado will head for Noumea then and be replaced by the North Carolina. Sommervilles TF is a secret so it will not bombard, Prince of Wales and Repulse are near Cairns now, so BB bombardment is provided by US BBs and many other Allied ships.
My convoys are still a mess, I screwed up loading and have two seperate convoys bringing up the artillery, base force and supplies, or 3 in total if you include the Marines. Next time I do this your going to see one big lump of transports much like the CV TF group that I have managed to operate successfully.
Still Efate is down to 7500 active defenders, they had 9500 when the Aussies attacked on the 11th. By the time everyone unloads it will be August 21st or 22nd and a few more attacks will quickly push the Japanese off the base.
What have I learned?
Coordinate the invasion much better next time. Efate could have been Allied on August 11th if I had done it right. Doing it wrong is VERY dangerous because it gives the enemy time to organize a counter attack, or if his position is strong he can out and out defeat the invasion. As the US Navy knew during the war long invasions leave the supporting naval forces terribly exposed.
On the bright side I have also learned that a plan that included bombing and bombarding for a long time gives the Allies a much easier time invading. Don't try to suprise Japan, they know your coming.
A little bit of proof that months of bombardment and cutting the enemy off from supply can make a landing much easier. This is the 1st USMC going ashore:
Coastal Guns at Efate, 73,109, firing at TF 1211
TF 1211 troops unloading over beach at Efate, 73,109
1 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied ground losses:
338 casualties reported
- Attachments
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- InvasionofEfate.jpg (73 KiB) Viewed 276 times
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Tom Hunter
- Posts: 2194
- Joined: Tue Dec 14, 2004 1:57 am
August 19 42
China
Large concentrations of Japanese troops are now outside Kaigan, China is rushing re-inforcements to the location.
There was a Fierce air battle over Kaifeng on August 18th. Two RAAF air groups were stopping over on thier way to Kaigan when the Japanese showed up. Though heavily outnumbered they did significant damage to the Japanese.
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 24
A6M3 Zero x 54
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 70
Ki-21 Sally x 71
Ki-48 Lily x 40
Ki-49 Helen x 45
Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 10
Spitfire Vb x 9
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 27 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-21 Sally: 1 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane II: 12 destroyed
Spitfire Vb: 11 destroyed
Though they took more losses the Japanese achieved their strategic goal, the RAAF planes did not get to Kaigan.
In the South West Pacific regular allied bombing attacks continued against Port Moresby and at intervals Lae. Kittyhawks from Thursday Island are bombing PM and gaining combat experience, Hudsons and 4 engine bombers keep the airfield damaged as well.
A convoy carrying an additional base force and a US RCT is 3 days away from Thursday, and the airfield there is 96% of the way to L3 rising 1 or 2 % a day. Soon there will be 100 AV on an L3 base and it will be possible to attack Port Moresby with Beauforts, A20s and other twin engine planes. Cooktown recently built up to a level 6 airfield and has over 200 AV with an airforce HQ so the air balance in the SW Pacific is shifting in favor of the Allies. Too bad that it was impossible to do this in time to save the PM garrison but if things continue it may be possible to trap the Japanese troops that took PM at the base.
In the South Pacific Allied ships and planes pounded the Japanese at Efate while the Marines, Tanks, Artillery and Base Force unloaded. On the 18th the attack went in against the beleagerd defenders:
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 27732 troops, 260 guns, 112 vehicles
Defending force 5219 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles
Allied assault odds: 13 to 1 (fort level 0)
Allied forces CAPTURE Efate base !!!
Japanese ground losses:
351 casualties reported
Allied ground losses:
123 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
Vehicles lost 1
This is the first Japanese base to fall to American and Australian forces.
A wildcat unit flew in to provide CAP while the airfield gets repaired and more supply and base forces will be arriving soon. Efate will be the staging ground for a program of air attacks on Lugaville both to train the pilots and prepare for an invasion.
Large concentrations of Japanese troops are now outside Kaigan, China is rushing re-inforcements to the location.
There was a Fierce air battle over Kaifeng on August 18th. Two RAAF air groups were stopping over on thier way to Kaigan when the Japanese showed up. Though heavily outnumbered they did significant damage to the Japanese.
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 24
A6M3 Zero x 54
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 70
Ki-21 Sally x 71
Ki-48 Lily x 40
Ki-49 Helen x 45
Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 10
Spitfire Vb x 9
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 27 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-21 Sally: 1 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane II: 12 destroyed
Spitfire Vb: 11 destroyed
Though they took more losses the Japanese achieved their strategic goal, the RAAF planes did not get to Kaigan.
In the South West Pacific regular allied bombing attacks continued against Port Moresby and at intervals Lae. Kittyhawks from Thursday Island are bombing PM and gaining combat experience, Hudsons and 4 engine bombers keep the airfield damaged as well.
A convoy carrying an additional base force and a US RCT is 3 days away from Thursday, and the airfield there is 96% of the way to L3 rising 1 or 2 % a day. Soon there will be 100 AV on an L3 base and it will be possible to attack Port Moresby with Beauforts, A20s and other twin engine planes. Cooktown recently built up to a level 6 airfield and has over 200 AV with an airforce HQ so the air balance in the SW Pacific is shifting in favor of the Allies. Too bad that it was impossible to do this in time to save the PM garrison but if things continue it may be possible to trap the Japanese troops that took PM at the base.
In the South Pacific Allied ships and planes pounded the Japanese at Efate while the Marines, Tanks, Artillery and Base Force unloaded. On the 18th the attack went in against the beleagerd defenders:
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 27732 troops, 260 guns, 112 vehicles
Defending force 5219 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles
Allied assault odds: 13 to 1 (fort level 0)
Allied forces CAPTURE Efate base !!!
Japanese ground losses:
351 casualties reported
Allied ground losses:
123 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
Vehicles lost 1
This is the first Japanese base to fall to American and Australian forces.
A wildcat unit flew in to provide CAP while the airfield gets repaired and more supply and base forces will be arriving soon. Efate will be the staging ground for a program of air attacks on Lugaville both to train the pilots and prepare for an invasion.
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Tom Hunter
- Posts: 2194
- Joined: Tue Dec 14, 2004 1:57 am
RE: August 19 42
Here is a big strategic question for the Allies.
After Efate the Allies could go to one of two places, the New Hebredies or New Guinea.
The advantages of the New Hebredies operation are obvious. Huge quantities of air cover, shorter supply lines, less warning for Japan and better warning of any Japanese naval moves thanks to the AVD at Vanikolo.
The move on New Guinea has much greater risk. On the down side there is no base for Allied PBYs between New Guinea and Rabaul so it would be difficult to get advanced warning of moves by the IJN.
The fleet would have to steam in the open ocean with no LBA cover, and would be in range of airstrikes from Rabaul while the invading forces came ashore.
Even if Gili Gili falls it is very exposed, stopping a Japanese counter attack would be difficult, but not neccissarily impossible.
Keeping Gili Gili would require delaying the October 1942 fleet refit. The Allies would need the CV fleet in the area to stop Japanese counter moves.
But there are several things that make the operation look attractive:
The Japanese CV fleet is off getting thier July refits, they left the South Pacific in early August.
If Gili Gili fell to the Allies then the Japanese would have 120,000 men trapped at Port Moresby.
Allied air bases in the area can do very strong supression of Lae and Port Moresby, the only safe Japanese base would be Raubal.
Gili Gili is already an L1 airbase so once it falls CAP could begin flying immediatly turning it into a death trap for attacking Japanese aircraft.
Taking and holding Gili Gili would be a major stratigic victory for the Allies because the garrisons of many Japanese held islands require troops from the army at Port Moresby.
It's an interesting and difficult question, what do you all think?
After Efate the Allies could go to one of two places, the New Hebredies or New Guinea.
The advantages of the New Hebredies operation are obvious. Huge quantities of air cover, shorter supply lines, less warning for Japan and better warning of any Japanese naval moves thanks to the AVD at Vanikolo.
The move on New Guinea has much greater risk. On the down side there is no base for Allied PBYs between New Guinea and Rabaul so it would be difficult to get advanced warning of moves by the IJN.
The fleet would have to steam in the open ocean with no LBA cover, and would be in range of airstrikes from Rabaul while the invading forces came ashore.
Even if Gili Gili falls it is very exposed, stopping a Japanese counter attack would be difficult, but not neccissarily impossible.
Keeping Gili Gili would require delaying the October 1942 fleet refit. The Allies would need the CV fleet in the area to stop Japanese counter moves.
But there are several things that make the operation look attractive:
The Japanese CV fleet is off getting thier July refits, they left the South Pacific in early August.
If Gili Gili fell to the Allies then the Japanese would have 120,000 men trapped at Port Moresby.
Allied air bases in the area can do very strong supression of Lae and Port Moresby, the only safe Japanese base would be Raubal.
Gili Gili is already an L1 airbase so once it falls CAP could begin flying immediatly turning it into a death trap for attacking Japanese aircraft.
Taking and holding Gili Gili would be a major stratigic victory for the Allies because the garrisons of many Japanese held islands require troops from the army at Port Moresby.
It's an interesting and difficult question, what do you all think?
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ny59giants
- Posts: 9902
- Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 12:02 pm
RE: August 19 42
I like the Gili Gili option because of the following:
1) The Jap CV's are away and when they return, this option is gone for some time. [:-]
2) Gili Gili can become a L6 airfield and from there the air offensive against Rabaul can begin. Even B-25's can reach from here!! Especially when the P-38's become available. [:D]
3) From Gili Gili, the Goodenough island and the other one (begins with a "K") can be taken due to airpower from GG.
4) Closes down any Jap TF coming around to reinforce PM.
5) Traps the Japs in PM which Luganville will not do.
This option is higher risk (USN CV's), but higher rewards.
The Luganville option can be done anytime without much interference from Jap CV's and within your LBA umbrella. It can be used as training ground for your young Air Force. It doesn't help you get to attacking Rabaul as soon, as this is the key to the Solomon/New Guinea area. The jump from here to G'Canal or Munda Point is very large.
"IF" GG is taken, then the invasion of Luganville is at your leisure. [&o]
1) The Jap CV's are away and when they return, this option is gone for some time. [:-]
2) Gili Gili can become a L6 airfield and from there the air offensive against Rabaul can begin. Even B-25's can reach from here!! Especially when the P-38's become available. [:D]
3) From Gili Gili, the Goodenough island and the other one (begins with a "K") can be taken due to airpower from GG.
4) Closes down any Jap TF coming around to reinforce PM.
5) Traps the Japs in PM which Luganville will not do.
This option is higher risk (USN CV's), but higher rewards.
The Luganville option can be done anytime without much interference from Jap CV's and within your LBA umbrella. It can be used as training ground for your young Air Force. It doesn't help you get to attacking Rabaul as soon, as this is the key to the Solomon/New Guinea area. The jump from here to G'Canal or Munda Point is very large.
"IF" GG is taken, then the invasion of Luganville is at your leisure. [&o]
[center]
[/center]
[/center]RE: August 19 42
I like New Hebrides. Hit him where he ain't and where you can generate air supremacy.
Show me a fellow who rejects statistical analysis a priori and I'll show you a fellow who has no knowledge of statistics.
Didn't we have this conversation already?
Didn't we have this conversation already?
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anarchyintheuk
- Posts: 3958
- Joined: Wed May 05, 2004 7:08 pm
- Location: Dallas
RE: August 19 42
I like the gg operation too, but it is risky. Make sure to bring your excess cd units, pt boats and have a lot of lba reserves and replacements available (especially p38 replacements). Can p40s and kittyhawks stage from australia? I forget. Like you said gg is exposed so it only takes one day of bad weather to have your airfield pimp-slapped by IJN BBs. He probably has a counterinvasion force available at truk or rabaul. If KB is refitting and you can adequately protect gg while it's building up, it has a chance. In the end if he really wants it back, he can get it. Just depends on your assessment of how agressive you think he'll be. I think he will, who wants to watch 120k troops try to walk to Lae?
Random thoughts:
Is Lae and/or Buna built up? Can all of the NG fields be suppressed?
Do you want to fight a major carrier battle here?
Be prepared to go w/o those upgrades, you may not get a chance for a while.
One good thing if he tries to take back gg: with all of the troops he has committed at PM and those involved w/ the counterinvasion, he'll be down to very limited ground reserves.
Concetrate your surface forces in the aussie base you're staging from. Make available all the apds/destroyers/air transports and engineers that you can spare.
Do you have a base that you can mine gg from?
Don't send anything you won't miss.
That and a bunch of other things you've already thought of. Good luck, whichever you choose.
Random thoughts:
Is Lae and/or Buna built up? Can all of the NG fields be suppressed?
Do you want to fight a major carrier battle here?
Be prepared to go w/o those upgrades, you may not get a chance for a while.
One good thing if he tries to take back gg: with all of the troops he has committed at PM and those involved w/ the counterinvasion, he'll be down to very limited ground reserves.
Concetrate your surface forces in the aussie base you're staging from. Make available all the apds/destroyers/air transports and engineers that you can spare.
Do you have a base that you can mine gg from?
Don't send anything you won't miss.
That and a bunch of other things you've already thought of. Good luck, whichever you choose.
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Tom Hunter
- Posts: 2194
- Joined: Tue Dec 14, 2004 1:57 am
August 20 42
This in from Mogami
back, I guess TJ and others are right about the game going too fast....wait
it's Aug 42 and Allies just retook their first base. Does it have to be the
exact base in order for it to be correct? As far as all that extra supply
and fuel goes I've been hampered by a lack of fuel (I often have to wait for
supply but I am able to scrape it up but fuel is killing me)
whenever I seemed not to be doing anything it was simply a lack of fuel. I'd
be interfering more with you at efate but I'm dry from Saipan south. I've
resorted to refueling off transports and larger ships to get smaller ships
at sea.
I wanted to loiter off Efate with my CV but half of them went into the red.
As a result I could not cover resupply/reinforcement or even surface combat
TF.
(sorry this is supposed to be a no whining game but sometimes I wish people
would at least play Japan for a year before making up their minds about how
easy they are to play)
And I thought I would show a variation on the combat report theme, this is todays bombing of the Japanese in the Jungle. The Aussies and the US tank battalion will attack during the next combat phase, during the bombardment attack only 2 SNLFs were left.
back, I guess TJ and others are right about the game going too fast....wait
it's Aug 42 and Allies just retook their first base. Does it have to be the
exact base in order for it to be correct? As far as all that extra supply
and fuel goes I've been hampered by a lack of fuel (I often have to wait for
supply but I am able to scrape it up but fuel is killing me)
whenever I seemed not to be doing anything it was simply a lack of fuel. I'd
be interfering more with you at efate but I'm dry from Saipan south. I've
resorted to refueling off transports and larger ships to get smaller ships
at sea.
I wanted to loiter off Efate with my CV but half of them went into the red.
As a result I could not cover resupply/reinforcement or even surface combat
TF.
(sorry this is supposed to be a no whining game but sometimes I wish people
would at least play Japan for a year before making up their minds about how
easy they are to play)
And I thought I would show a variation on the combat report theme, this is todays bombing of the Japanese in the Jungle. The Aussies and the US tank battalion will attack during the next combat phase, during the bombardment attack only 2 SNLFs were left.
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Tom Hunter
- Posts: 2194
- Joined: Tue Dec 14, 2004 1:57 am
RE: August 20 42
and the second raid of the day:
Though I do think the game runs too fast the only reason I was able to take a base back so early is that Mogami over extended. If he had not come down to Efate and Luganville I would be stuck building up for the very dangerous hop to the Solomons.
I am starting preperations for an invasion of Gili Gili, but have not decided to pull the trigger yet.
If I go it will bring on a major battle, having 125,000 troops cut off at Port Moresby in September 42 would be a disaster for Japan. The question is do I want the battle then and there or somewhere else at some other time. I am still deciding.
Though I do think the game runs too fast the only reason I was able to take a base back so early is that Mogami over extended. If he had not come down to Efate and Luganville I would be stuck building up for the very dangerous hop to the Solomons.
I am starting preperations for an invasion of Gili Gili, but have not decided to pull the trigger yet.
If I go it will bring on a major battle, having 125,000 troops cut off at Port Moresby in September 42 would be a disaster for Japan. The question is do I want the battle then and there or somewhere else at some other time. I am still deciding.
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