The Hive - Cruft PBEM (Japan, Scen 2 Beta + Stacking Limits)

[Captain Cruft]

No advantage.

Sorry being gnomic

[obvert]

Ok. So no advantage, but it's an obvious disadvantage, so why do that? [&:]

You have plenty of escorts left after virtually no naval action all game. Seems odd to not use them.

[Captain Cruft]

25 July 1944

Tojos go nearly 1 for 1 against P-47s over Hong Kong today. The Thunderbolts are flying from Liuchow, which is quite a trek. I can only presume the pilots are tired.

Another successful artillery bombardment too. I am almost beginning to imagine that I might prevent the Brits from reclaiming their former colony.

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Ground combat at Hong Kong (77,61)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 10174 troops, 216 guns, 95 vehicles, Assault Value = 2058

Defending force 177665 troops, 2819 guns, 3613 vehicles, Assault Value = 5250

Japanese ground losses:
14 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Allied ground losses:
326 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 27 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 7 disabled
Vehicles lost 11 (1 destroyed, 10 disabled)

[Captain Cruft]

Piccie.

I have landed an INA unit at Kwangchowan. It's feeble and could not even overcome the base force and anti-tank unit which is all that is there. A Japanese commander has been installed, and after a few days rest they will try again.

A much larger and more competent Amphibious brigade will land at Pakhoi next turn.

I will keep my options open about landing again on the Indochina rail line.

As long as he cannot defeat the 500 Franks at Kiungshan I will be able to continue to mess with his flank and supply line like this. It's great [8D]

[Captain Cruft]

Kiungshan itself.

The actual flak at the base is 80 x 88mm guns.

[Captain Cruft]

Hong Kong.

As the 75mm arty here is being so successful I am going to ship in some 15cm Guns from Karenko, which is slightly over-stacked.

[Captain Cruft]

LSTs.

These ships make moving heavy stuff around quickly a breeze. I have 32 of them now, with another 16 in the pipeline.

[Captain Cruft]

Back in the Home Islands things are busy as always.

The two amphibious TFs embarking at Kumamoto and Kurume are part of an opportunistic thing which I have just conceived. If it comes off it will be major. It should unfold over the next couple of weeks.

[Captain Cruft]

The Carolines and Marianas.

He has recently been flying recon over Babeldoab, Yap & Ulithi. Perhaps he will come for them soon?

Saipan and Guam are now both size 9 forts. Tinian is at 8 and Rota at 7. Babeldoab, Peliliu, Yap & Ulithi are all at size 6.

[JocMeister]

What kind of troops do you have in the Marianas?

[Captain Cruft]

It'a real mix. All bases have CD guns, tanks and arty but I can't remember more without looking. I haven't sent any units to this area for a long time now.

[Captain Cruft]

This is at Guam, for instance.

[JocMeister]

You have any IDs in place? If not I would consider sending a solid ID per Island to get the most out of those forts.

I don´t want to get you depressed but I did a lot of testing with the Japanese Tank divisions. 2 US Tank battalions or a single US ID (44 squads) is enough to completely wreck a Japanese tank division in x2 terrain in a matter of days. But I guess having level 9 forts will give them a fair amount of staying power! [:D]

[Captain Cruft]

I only ever intended the Marianas to be a speed bump. To be honest I am surprised to still have them in my possession at this point.

Good point though. I will have to trawl through the spares bin ...

[Sangeli]

ORIGINAL: Captain Cruft
I doubt he is over-stacked. The number of units is about the same as I have, and I am only using 80,000 of the 160,000 limit.

Ground combat at Hong Kong (77,61)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 10126 troops, 216 guns, 94 vehicles, Assault Value = 2042

Defending force 178708 troops, 2850 guns, 3645 vehicles, Assault Value = 5318

That there is over 160,000 soldiers [:D]

[Captain Cruft]

You may be right. I am pleased with the bombardment results however they are achieved.

My cunning and evil opportunistic plan just got a lot more evil and cunning. I had forgotten how much spare unrestricted stuff I have lying around the place. Most of these units are allocated to Operation Bouvet, but as this is at least a year off they can go kick butt somewhere else in the meantime.

Combat results from Hong Kong this turn (July 26) are below. The Peggy is great, very few of the damaged planes don't make it back.

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Morning Air attack on 254th Armoured Brigade, at 77,61 (Hong Kong)

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 34
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 15
Ki-61-Id Tony x 6
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy x 51

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy: 17 damaged

Allied ground losses:
136 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 10 (3 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Vehicles lost 16 (2 destroyed, 14 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
28 x Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
5 x Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
6 x Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
6 x Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
6 x Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

Also attacking 25th Indian Division ...
Also attacking 20th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment ...
Also attacking 20th Indian Division ...
Also attacking 25th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment ...
Also attacking 7th Australian Division ...
Also attacking 254th Armoured Brigade ...
Also attacking 25th Indian Division ...
Also attacking 20th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment ...
Also attacking 20th Indian Division ...
Also attacking 25th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment ...
Also attacking 7th Australian Division ...
Also attacking 254th Armoured Brigade ...

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Morning Air attack on 19th Indian Division, at 77,61 (Hong Kong)

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 34 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 25
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 18
Ki-61-Id Tony x 35
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy x 23

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy: 6 damaged

Allied ground losses:
76 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
23 x Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on 2nd British Division, at 77,61 (Hong Kong)

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 39 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 23
Ki-61-Id Tony x 8
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy x 24

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy: 6 damaged

Allied ground losses:
50 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
24 x Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on 2nd British Division, at 77,61 (Hong Kong)

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 35 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 20
Ki-61-Id Tony x 6
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy x 20
Ki-84a Frank x 33

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy: 2 damaged

Allied ground losses:
42 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
20 x Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on 25th Indian Division, at 77,61 (Hong Kong)

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 39 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 11
Ki-61-Id Tony x 3
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy x 23

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy: 10 damaged

Allied ground losses:
54 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
23 x Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

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Ground combat at Hong Kong (77,61)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 10186 troops, 216 guns, 95 vehicles, Assault Value = 2063

Defending force 178816 troops, 2968 guns, 3644 vehicles, Assault Value = 5256

Japanese ground losses:
18 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
160 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 27 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 34 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Guns lost 16 (2 destroyed, 14 disabled)
Vehicles lost 23 (3 destroyed, 20 disabled)

[Captain Cruft]

27 July 1944

Forts are reduced at Hong Kong.

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Ground combat at Hong Kong (77,61)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 165882 troops, 2798 guns, 3313 vehicles, Assault Value = 5261

Defending force 74755 troops, 938 guns, 541 vehicles, Assault Value = 2079

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 7

Allied adjusted assault: 2452

Japanese adjusted defense: 26125

Allied assault odds: 1 to 10 (fort level 7)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), leaders(+), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1695 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 99 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 33 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 19 disabled
Guns lost 46 (1 destroyed, 45 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
17633 casualties reported
Squads: 452 destroyed, 1786 disabled
Non Combat: 140 destroyed, 277 disabled
Engineers: 115 destroyed, 221 disabled
Guns lost 261 (26 destroyed, 235 disabled)
Vehicles lost 204 (54 destroyed, 150 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
I Aus Corps Engineer Battalion
3rd New Chinese Corps
28th (East African) Brigade
43rd Cavalry Regiment
Provisionl Tank Brigade
11th Indian Division
82nd (West African) Division
38th Infantry Division
25th Indian Division
60th Chinese Corps
14th Chindit Brigade
19th Indian Division
254th Armoured Brigade
18th British Division
81st (West African) Division
2nd British Division
20th Indian Division
255th Indian Tank Brigade
7th Australian Division
73rd Chinese Corps
5th Indian Division
88th Medium Regiment
77th Heavy AA Regiment
32nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
24th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
1st Indian Light AA Regiment
56th Heavy AA Regiment
Southeast Asia
23rd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
8th Medium Regiment
14th Army
20th Artillery Regiment
6th Mixed A/T Mtr Regiment
163rd Light AA Regiment
20th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
31st Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
3rd West African AA Regiment
5th Field Regiment
17th Indian Light AA Regiment
6th Medium Regiment
30th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
25th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
21st Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
XXXIII Indian Corps
IV Indian Corps
22nd Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
55th Division
60th Division
Hong Kong Def Force
21st Division
104th Division
38th Division
30th Division
10th Ind. Field Artillery Battalion
20th RF Gun Battalion
Canton Special Base Force
25th Ind. Field Artillery Battalion
75th Field AA Battalion
Hong Kong Special Base Force
28th Army
7th JAAF Base Force
11th Ind. Field Artillery Battalion
9th Ind. Field Artillery Battalion
1st JAAF Base Force
43rd Const Co
5th RF Gun Battalion
52nd Field AA Battalion
53rd Field AA Battalion
2nd Shipping Engineer Regiment
16th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Air Division
29th Army
54th Field AA Battalion
47th JAAF AF Bn /1

[jeffk3510]

ORIGINAL: Captain Cruft

The Carolines and Marianas.

He has recently been flying recon over Babeldoab, Yap & Ulithi. Perhaps he will come for them soon?

Saipan and Guam are now both size 9 forts. Tinian is at 8 and Rota at 7. Babeldoab, Peliliu, Yap & Ulithi are all at size 6.

That is a pretty impressive line in the sand.

What kind of AV are there at each island?

[Captain Cruft]

I don't know without looking. If he ever lands there I will obviously pay more attention

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Captain Cruft

I don't know without looking. If he ever lands there I will obviously pay more attention

Used to be 'the hive.' Now it's the mystery in the Pacific! [:)]