PzB vs Wobbly - Clash of Steel

[Mynok]

I assume you plan and assign fast transport TFs to move this "Force'd Manouvre" where it needs to go. By this time of the war, aren't AP's and AK's pretty much just Allied VPs waiting to happen?

[PzB74]

It depends on the situation! At Kai Islands Andy invaded without having LBA/carrier support and transports sufficed.

Sometimes 500 transports can move a full division in a short time...At Kavieng I massed 100 APs in smaller TFs - very difficult to sink them all.
In late 43-44 Japan will suffer heavily no matter what - I can afford to exchange transports and other replacable units for time.
Fast transports on the other hand are very valuable and I can't afford to loose them.

I've never cared too much about VP's but fortunately I got 60k to 25 and can afford to loose quite a few without loosing the game [8D]

[Mynok]

Ah, I see. So you use the "herd" method of AP protection. Interesting.

[PzB74]

Northern New Guinea and the Palaus

I've been pondering over the map and come to the following conclusions:

If Andy wants to invade the Palaus' he will use bases in northern New Guinea to stage massive air strikes
and provide LRCAP. It will be way too dangerous to invade Woleai without securing Truk. The Combined Fleet and air force
at the Palaus' and Marianas' can overpower even a strong US invasion force without LBA support.

It will be very difficult to prevent North Guinea from falling into Allied hands but we have to do all we can to
delay it. Hansa, Wewak, Daigapu and Aitape are next on Andy's list and I'm not going to reinforce these bases further.
So I'm going to do my best to strengthen the bases from Hollandia and northwards.

For the time being the following troops are in place:
Name - ports - airfields - forts (construction in progress)
Hollandia 3(3) 4(4) 7(6%) 15k troops
Sarmi 1(1) 1(2) 2(48%) Construction unit
Biak 1(1) 4(4) 7(64%) 13k troops
Noemfoor 1(1) 4(3) 4(49%) 6k troops
Manokwari 1(1) 1(2) 1(55%) Construction unit
Sansapor 1(1) 1(2) 2(59%) Construction unit
Sorong 3(2) 4(2) 7(94%) 13k troops
Morotai 1(2) 4(3) 6(31%) 15k troops
Weda 1(1) 1(3) 2(54%) Construction unit

Hollandia, Biak and Noemfoor are valuable bases and should be garrisoned heavily.
Not sure which units to place there, got a lot of reinforcements that may fit in nicely. Should also be possible
to free a couple of units from China or borrow a division from the Marianas.

[PzB74]

There is protection in numbers... I don't like to use 100 single TFs - a dozen or more convoys of 5-6 ships is a good solution.

I often include supply ships and even empty ones in these convoys. If I want the enemy to concentrate on a single target I attach warships to an empty convoy [;)]

Strategic Map 11/43

Here is an overview: I've only turned on Japanese TFs' (red dots) and enemy ground units (green dots).
You can see the frontline pretty clearly. I'm also keeping my TFs away from enemy zones of controll.

[Sneer]

what is your strategy ?
Do you keep base with lower quality lighter unit and reinforce with better one (i.e. crack divisuon) or vice versa?
I try to do opposite variant - biggest troops are dug in in frontline bases as I want to use their artillery against landing enemy and naval guards as easy to transport fast by fast transport TF

[PzB74]

My crack divisions are in the Marianas and other key areas together with elite units like the South Seas Detachment,
brigades etc. They are augmented by artillery and coastal defensive units. My naval guard units have been placed in the Marshalls
and on New Britain and surrounding islands (earlier also in the Solomons). They have been withdrawn and rebuilt quite a few times.

Hopefully I can get some of them out and rebuild them again, getting more difficult as the monster called Allied LBA makes life short
for any transport group within striking distance of sniper B17/24s [8|] Air transports are used to withdraw them as well, just pulled
2 construction units out of the Admiralities. Don't want to loose them either.

It's vise to use the light units as a rapid reinforcement force as you say, unfortunately I can't afford to pull them out of the frontlines.
Got a big army tied up in India...(pulling one reserve division out now, it's heading for Palau).

[PzB74]

There are currently 1200 ac in my three Chinese training bases. This is the maximum number I employ
since the bases can only support 8x50 ac each. Most of the 1200 ac can be moved directly to the frontlines
but I will continue to hone their skills until they reach an average of 75 or more.

The plan is to base them in the Philippines and create a sizeable strategic air reserve. I'm going to need
several waves of good ac to defeat an Allied amphibious landing. Some 900 KB ac supported by 2000 Army and Navy
ac should be made ready. The question is which units to keep at the front? Andy will most likely sweep and bomb
the bases before an invasion so logical I should keep only a modest presence at the front..Only Ulithi, my main
fleet port will be heavily defended.

Today I moved 3 of my Glen equipped subs back into the Pacific to scout for enemy convoys and invasion fleets.
I've gven the boats a good overhaul and they don't have any system damage.

In Tokyo the Kaga has finished her 3/43 overhaul and is kept in reserve for now. I'm mostly waiting for enough 'Jills'
to replace all my Kates. This will enhance my striking capabilities substantially - torpedoes and bombs from 5 hexes.

11 November
Solomon Islands - On Bougainville, Japanese resistance in the entrenched line blocking the Mission track is exhausted. About 500 Japanese have been killed. The Americans move forward in all directions to widen their perimeter and find a place where they can construct an airfield.
New Britain - Two TFs including the Saratoga and the Princeton under R.Admiral Sherman, and the Essex, Bunker Hill and Independence under R.Adm Montgomery, send 185 ac over Rabaul. 68 Zero fighters are destroyed, the destroyer Suzunami sunk and the cruiser Agano and the destroyer Naganami, already badly damaged, reduced to smoking hulks. The Japanese send 120 ac out to attack the carriers. They succeed in locating and attacking R.Adm Montgomery's squadron, but do no serious damage to it and loose 41 ac against 11 lost by the Americans.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 11/11/43

Sub/ASW Attacks

The Finback decides to engage the Yamafuku Maru on the surface and is hit by three 3"
shells by the experienced gunnery crew!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 38,77

Japanese Ships
AP Yamafuku Maru, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Finback, hits 3

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

I continue to hammer Chungking and the Chinese AF remnants!

Day Air attack on Chungking , at 43,32

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 45
Ki-21 Sally x 95
Ki-48 Lily x 33
Ki-49 Helen x 24

Allied aircraft
no flights

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
P-40N Warhawk: 3 destroyed
B-25J Mitchell: 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
21 casualties reported

Airbase hits 10
Runway hits 149
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[PzB74]

Attaching 2 compressed screenies of all the Army reinforcements that are going to arrive over the next year!
Should make it easier to plan ahead.

Army Reinforcements I

[PzB74]

Army Reinforcements II

[saj42]

I see you get several Divs and Bdes in the PI in 216 days.
What happens if you don't own those bases then ? I assume those reinforcements are 'lost' - like the Allied ones for Karachi.

I hope it doesn't happen - I'm confident his attacks will founder against your main line of defense.

[PzB74]

I assume the divisions will appear in Tokyo instead, but I'm not sure of that. Much better to get them straight into the Philippines.
But it is as I say: you got to hold the Allies back according to the historical time line in order to receive enoug reinforcements to hold
back the storm. This is exceedingly difficult as WitP allows both sides to advance so quickly!

[PzB74]

Heavy air strikes against Hansa and other targets today. We continue to suppress
the Chinese.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 11/12/43

Air Combat

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kweiyang , at 41,35

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21 Sally x 52
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
18 casualties reported

Airbase hits 10
Runway hits 44
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 7th Naval Construction Battalion, at 39,80

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 10
Ki-21 Sally x 18

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
6 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
18 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 10000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 56,86

Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 3

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied Ships
AO Brazos

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
-------------------------------------------------------------

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 11/13/43

Day Air attack on Kweiyang , at 41,35

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21 Sally x 37
Ki-46-II Dinah x 2

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
47 casualties reported

Airbase hits 13
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 25
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Chungking , at 43,32

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 47
Ki-21 Sally x 101
Ki-48 Lily x 39
Ki-49 Helen x 27

Allied aircraft
no flights

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-25J Mitchell: 1 destroyed
I-16c: 1 destroyed

Allied ground losses:
23 casualties reported

Airbase hits 6
Runway hits 88
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Hansa , at 53,83

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Boomerang II x 12
Kittyhawk I x 13
A-20G Havoc x 15
B-25J Mitchell x 113
B-17E Fortress x 28
B-24D Liberator x 56

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed
J1N1-R Irving: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-25J Mitchell: 4 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
141 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 25
Airbase supply hits 14
Runway hits 148
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

Andy has assembled a huge force at Rabaul and started to eliminate the Jap remnants there.
Surprisingly they still managed to put up a good fight!

Ground combat at Rabaul

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 104396 troops, 856 guns, 271 vehicles

Defending force 6958 troops, 7 guns, 20 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 207 to 1

Japanese ground losses:
4844 casualties reported
Guns lost 7
Vehicles lost 35

Allied ground losses:
560 casualties reported
Guns lost 15
---------------------------------------------------------------

The Jack

Received several really nice air units today including a 72, 48, 36 Zeke unit - and of course -
this 48 ac Jack interecptor Hikotai! [8D] These 200 ac will boost my defensive capasity tremendously.
Keeping 36 Zekes in Tokyo, the rest are going to the Marianas. Another 27 Betty bombers also arrived, going
to China for advanced training. Don't want to send bombers with less than 70+ exp out against enemy warships
as they're not going to hit anything.

[Rob Brennan UK]

good air unit commander there too . must be a bonus as i imagine good leaders are few and far between [;)]

[PzB74]

Background on the 'Jack'

Known to the Allies as Jack, the Mitsubishi J2M was designed by a team directed by Jiro Horikoshi, designer of the legendary A6M Zero. It was the first Japanese Navy fighter to be built specifically to operate from land bases. The project began unofficially in 1938, when the first ideas about a Navy fighter with an improved design and better speed capabilities were discussed between Mitsubushi and the Japanes Navy High Command. The project, whose requirements were issued in 1939, was delayed due to technical difficulties and also to the development of the A6M Zero fighter in that time. The first tests with the prototype (J2M1) did not begin until March 1942, and Mitsubishi still had to face further difficulties with the engine and visibility.

After these problems were solved, the Navy formally adopted the so-called J2M2 Navy Interceptor Fighter Raiden (Thunderbolt) Model 11 in October 1942. But production went slow and by mid-1943 only 17 Raidens had been delivered to the Navy. It was not until the autumn of that year that the newly formed 381st Kokutai (Air Group) at Toyohashi, southeast of Nagoya, began equipping with the plane. At about this time, the improved J2M3 Model 21 entered production. Retaining the Kasei 23a engine, the J2M3 (numerically the most important type of Raiden) had a stronger wing structure allowing a heavier armament. The two fuselage 7.7mm machine guns were deleted, and four 20mm cannon were installed in the wings. Although Mitsubishi built several improved versions (J2M3a, J2M4, J2M5 and J2M6), none of them could avoid technical problems so that the plane could be produced in growing numbers to help in the outcome of the war.

The Raiden first saw action in September 1944 over the Marianas during the Battle of the Philippine Sea. It was also used at Formosa, but it would become famous in the defense of the Japanese home islands against unescorted B-29 day raids. Its good performance, powerful armament, and armor protection made it perhaps the best bomber destroyer employed by Japan in the latter stages of the war. The pilots of 302nd Naval Air Group based on Atsugi air base showed the most brilliant record. The Raiden unit distinguished itself by shooting down a total of about 300 enemy planes in the short period from the end of 1944 to the end of the war.

[PzB74]

I hand picked the leader for the Jack unit Rob [;)]
Usually I receive fighter formations with patrol or bomber commanders...

[Fishbed]

That must be a bad joke: is WitP's Jack really carrier capable as said in your squadron sheet?! [&:]
And they never corrected it...?

[PzB74]

I think all IJN fighters are carrier capable - just like all USNA are! That doesn't mean I'm going to put
anything but Zero/Zekes' on my carriers.

[Fishbed]

That's just nonsense from the OOB maker!
I mean, Catalinas are run by the Navy too, that's not a reason to put them on a "carrier capable" basis [:o]
The plane is a land-based plane, point - when you take a look at its service records, indeed it's better that they never tried to land it on a carrier [8|][:D]

Are you supposed to receive Ki-100 in 1945 too? Super-tony will be a hell of a fighter too me thinks, at least if its perfs in WitP are not biased [;)]

[pauk]

hi, PzB...

What are your plans for defence of the NG/PI/Marians?

I do know your overall plan, but interested in details? do you consider using your Navy for bombardments run when Allies capture base(s) in NG? Or for intercepting enemy invasion forces? or you will keep them in the safe waters? Where is last stand for your Navy (Philipines like was historicaly, Marians?)

Using them in "elastic defence" should be possible - Andy is short with ships. And in my oppinion NG would be best place to use them - Andy could count only on Lae/Rabaul AFs for support.

And there is lot's of benefits for you:

- delaying him cause he needs to repair base
- spending supply (which is more important - there is only trail trough northern NG)
- disrupting his units (malaria zone, right? - so after capturing NG he must sent those units to nearest malaria free zone for recuperate. And where is nearest temp zone base - Australia? Noumea?) ok, he have enough units so he can probably rotate them and try advance even further but don't think he should broke your main defencive line then.

PS.. be carefully where you place Jacks and Georges - it would be a really shame that allied bombardment force ruins these new groups. IMO they should be good against 4E bombers so placing them in base under threat of these monsters won't be bad soluion.

Just my thoughts...