Quisling! An AFB does Japan (No PanzerKat)

[John B.]

GetAssista, It would make sense to me if Scott had attacked with something rather than bombard (he told me last night he did not). but hey, I'll take it.

[BBfanboy]

You must have a huge number of heavy guns like the 280 mm and 350 mm size, plus got a great die roll at Manila.

[Gridley380]

Are the 18 SS in Yokohama undergoing refit as well? Seems like they should be out hunting.

[John B.]

BBfanboy, I have 8 320 mm, 4 300 mm, 12 280 mm, 32 240 mm and at least 41 150mm. I'm not counting all of the 100 mm or 75 mm in the infantry units that are there. Each of my artillery has experience greater than 65, no disruption and 95+ morale. I'm not sure if that's a lot of big guns but even if it is that's a lot of dead americans from one turn of counter bombardment (over the past 35 turns or so my high kill in any single turn had been 28 or so squads/devices).

[Gridley380]

ORIGINAL: John B.

BBfanboy, I have 8 320 mm, 4 300 mm, 12 280 mm, 32 240 mm and at least 41 150mm.

EEP! I'm not familiar with historical Japanese heavy artillery, but in the PTO the US Army's super-heavy artillery peaked at 5 battalions of 240mm howitzers (6 tubes each) and one of 8" guns (6 tubes). You've got half again that many super-heavy tubes and something like twice that firepower in ONE HEX!??!

[John B.]

Gridley, The subs are undergoing refit. I've held them there for a couple of months so that they can get their radars so the shipyard is a big clogged up right now, but it has the advantage of being out of range of his bombers.

The plan all along has been to pack as much into Manila as I reasonably could recognizing that in a few months it will all be dead. I have not been overwhelmed by how well this firepower has done thus far. About an average of 10=12 squads/devices per turn and in the one deliberate attack where I have level 9 forts I lost more than Scott in raw numbers (but not in VP). That's why this turns massacre was such a surprise. Let's hope it bodes well for future bombardments.

[John B.]

Here are Scott's units in Manila. I count 13 artillery battalions and six regiments plus 8 full strength US divisions. The total gun count that I get from him is just shy of 2,000. Needless to say, there is not much of Manila that is still standing.

[John B.]

Second part of his units in Manila.

[Gridley380]

ORIGINAL: John B.

Here are Scott's units in Manila. I count 13 artillery battalions and six regiments plus 8 full strength US divisions. The total gun count that I get from him is just shy of 2,000. Needless to say, there is not much of Manila that is still standing.

Hmm. Seem to recall the game is light on US FA, but 13 battalions plus that fragment of "XI Corps Artillery" (assuming that's a battalion equivalent or two) is REALLY light. FYI, I believe those "medium regiments" are commonwealth FA battalion-equivalents, so they're adding to the gun count. Also interesting that there's a bunch of Marine FA but no Marine infantry (outside the handful of squads in the Defense Battalions).

Anyway, all the USMC artillery tops out at 155mm guns and all the division artillery at 155mm howitzers, so most of those tubes are light to medium (OK, Long Toms are "heavy"). So if you've got an appropriate supporting cast behind all those superheavies you listed you have a huge artillery advantage.

Thanks for satisfying my curiosity on the subs.

[John B.]

No problem! And, because it's a slow Friday afternoon, here is the rest of the IJN artillery in Manila (almost all of it in the infantry divisions). 70 mm T92 156, 75 mm Infantry guns 59, 75 mm T90 72, 75 mm T94 71, 90 mm mortar 9, 100 mm T91 36, 150 mm T96 21.

He has the 1st marine division and an airborne division in Clark Field. I'm sure the marines have a large artillery component but I would think that the airborne has lighter guns. In Clark Field I have nothing more than a brigade and a regiment and some odds and ends so a few 75 mm guns and not much more.

[Gridley380]

ORIGINAL: John B.

No problem! And, because it's a slow Friday afternoon, here is the rest of the IJN artillery in Manila (almost all of it in the infantry divisions). 70 mm T92 156, 75 mm Infantry guns 59, 75 mm T90 72, 75 mm T94 71, 90 mm mortar 9, 100 mm T91 36, 150 mm T96 21.

He has the 1st marine division and an airborne division in Clark Field. I'm sure the marines have a large artillery component but I would think that the airborne has lighter guns. In Clark Field I have nothing more than a brigade and a regiment and some odds and ends so a few 75 mm guns and not much more.

The rest of your FA park is less impressive, but it would be hard to match those heavies of yours.

The Marine and Airborne divisions *should* top out at 105mm howitzers, with a bunch of 75mm howitzers in there as well. Proportions will depend on which TO&E they're under, and whether that TOE got properly modeled. I seem to recall that most scenarios stop at Series F for the USMC. I don't remember what 11th Airborne's OrBat was.

[John B.]

Sadly, those are the guns the divisions come with in their oob. I don't remember the marine division oobs but I seem to recall that they are pretty artillery intensive.

[Gridley380]

ORIGINAL: John B.

Sadly, those are the guns the divisions come with in their oob. I don't remember the marine division oobs but I seem to recall that they are pretty artillery intensive.

Series F had 24 105mm howitzers and 24 75mm howitzers (plus a dozen 75mm SP guns), though I think at least one division had 36 105's and 12 75's instead. 105mm SP howitzers began to replace the 75mm SPG before Series G made it official as well.

[John B.]

This is the second marine division in October 44 from my last game. Nice artillery park but nothing too huge.

[John B.]

I hope I don't see this unit in Manila anytime!

[John B.]

Actually, the specs on 4.2 mortars are not too bad. From the looks of things, Scott has a LOT of 155s.

[Gridley380]

ORIGINAL: John B.

Actually, the specs on 4.2 mortars are not too bad. From the looks of things, Scott has a LOT of 155s.

While not technically part of the field artillery, the 4.2" mortar was indeed a VERY good weapon. It took the Army a while to recognize how valuable it was, though, and get enough Chemical Mortar Battalions into the field.

There should be a lot of 155mm howitzers - they were one of the most common US artillery pieces.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Gridley380

ORIGINAL: John B.

Actually, the specs on 4.2 mortars are not too bad. From the looks of things, Scott has a LOT of 155s.

While not technically part of the field artillery, the 4.2" mortar was indeed a VERY good weapon. It took the Army a while to recognize how valuable it was, though, and get enough Chemical Mortar Battalions into the field.

There should be a lot of 155mm howitzers - they were one of the most common US artillery pieces.

Problem is -they are howitzers and don't have the range needed to do counterbattery against the Japanese big guns. The 155 Long Tom is another story, and its accuracy makes up for the smaller caliber.

[John B.]

Another turn. Scott came back and really hammered Takao which is where most of my ground based losses were from. They were not repaired and can't be flown out so they grin and bear it and I fly out what I can.

[John B.]

I did have some small Kamikazes that flew and hit a CL. No real damage reported (they bounced off the armor) but they did destroy a radar set!