Empire of the Rising Lemon? SqzMyLemon (Japan) v Smeulders (Allies)

[SqzMyLemon]

Not a good turn for Japan. Some poor results today and I was careless ordering a Shock Attack in China without checking all the units involved for supply first.

Feb. 19/43:

Sub Ops:

SS Seawolf misses E W-26 near Babeldoab.
SS Seawolf does not miss her next target and sinks the xAK Nittai Maru with 3 out of 4 torpedoes exploding, the fourth was a dud. This transport was easy pickings though, as she was heavily damaged in a prior collision and was trying to reach Manila. She could only make 4 knots. E W-26 launches an ASW attack scoring no hits.

SS KXIV is once again spotted near Donggala, but once again my ASW forces fail to launch a DC attack. I have about four ASW TF's trying to nail this one enemy submarine, yet I can never get an attack launched against her. Extremely frustrating since she's picked up constantly by air and naval ASW.

China:

Air bombing of Chinese forces N.W. of Ankang preparatory to a Shock Attack yields 1(17) infantry and 0(8) non-combat squad losses totalling 158 casualties. The ground assault is a total failure though, as I only checked supply of the 6th Division prior to giving the order to attack, the 35th Division had only 1/3 needed supply. The AAR follows:

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

Ground combat at 81,41 (near Ankang)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 24808 troops, 225 guns, 56 vehicles, Assault Value = 903

Defending force 8244 troops, 76 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 293

Japanese adjusted assault: 836

Allied adjusted defense: 907

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), supply(-)

Japanese ground losses:
907 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 76 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 16 disabled
Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
482 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 32 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
6th Division
35th Division
5th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
33rd Chinese Corps
47th Chinese Corps
1st War Area
2nd Group Army

How the Chinese force had supply is a mystery to me and despite prior air attack still yielded the full 3x terrain benefit with no disruption, while my force with one undersupplied unit was completely neutered. My force is fully supplied this time around and I launch another shock attack tomorrow. Lesson learned, check every unit for supply prior to launching any assault.

Chinese forces in clear terrain near Chungking were bombed and suffered 0(23) infantry, 0(11) non-combat and 1(0) engineer squads lost totalling 204 casualties.

The Gilbert Islands:

Tarawa's airbase was hit by Allied bombers for 13 AB, 13 ABS and 29 Runway hits. One H8K1 Emily was destroyed on the ground. Pretty good results from just 28 Allied 2E bombers. I envy Allied air power.

The Solomons:

Poor showing from the Lunga bombardment today, especially when compared against yesterday's results. AAR follows:

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Night Naval bombardment of Lunga at 114,138

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna
BB Kongo

Allied ground losses:
58 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)

E13A1 Jake acting as spotter for BB Haruna
BB Haruna firing at 27th Infantry Division
BB Kongo firing at 27th Infantry Division

Sally's should have hit Lunga today, but were grounded due to weather. [:@]

As feared, only half my troops disembarked at Tassafaronga today, so the larger transports will have to remain and hopefully will put everyone ashore tomorrow. The smaller TF's made up of xAK's all emptied their loads and can be withdrawn. It's not so much the delay, but the risk of losing a lot of high VP ships if the Allies can get at them. I will not use the larger ships again in a combat zone, they will be relegated to shifting troops around behind the scenes.

Regardless, the majority of troops are ashore and marching on Lunga.

Support units have landed on Tulagi and airbase expansion is underway. I've laid some open Ocean minefields to hopefully bag a submarine or two. My ships can bypass the danger. I'm running out of time though, Ndeni just reached a level 5 airbase. It won't be long until the P-38 sweeps followed by Allied 2E and 4E bombing attacks begin. It can also provide enough LRCAP to even the fight against Allied CV's, so this base must be dealt with sooner than later. I will take losses suppressing it though, it's mined, protected by PT's and if my bombardment TF's get hung out they are at risk of serious LBA interdiction, not to mention any Allied surface forces that may be committed.

Miscellaneous:

Japan:

Kusaie Island expands port to size 2
Vella Lavella expands airfield to size 2
Manado expands port to size 3

DD Shinonome beginning refit in shipyard at Kobe
Zuiho-1 converting to A6M3a Zero

281 Ku S-1 arrives at Maizuru (A6M2 Zero unit)

Allied:

Ndeni expands airfield to size 5
Fenton expands airfield to size 9

Thoughts:

Tick...tick...tick...

[ny59giants]

Tassafaronga - how much Naval Support did you bring here?? That is why as Japan those "Shipping Engineers" need to be in the first wave to help unload, especially over under developed ports. The Allies get 6 of those Port Service units which help early in the war at size 2 or smaller ports.

[SqzMyLemon]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Tassafaronga - how much Naval Support did you bring here?

None

All my shipping engineer units are facilitating fuel/oil loading at various ports. It's funny you mention the naval support though, as I was just looking at addressing that particular issue. I am moving a Special Base Force forward and the 8th Fleet HQ.

I couldn't cover everything considering the ad hoc nature of the entire operation. Now that the initial rush of ground troops will be ashore soon, I can get the specialized units in place.

This operation always has the potential to fail, but I tell you, I'm figuring out tons of ways to do things better and more efficiently. It's helped me stay engaged and as you can probably tell I'm quite enjoying the game right now. I appreciate all the comments, often they remind me of something I overlooked or just didn't consider.

The priority after the ground troops are ashore is to get the port and airbase level built up so I can stockpile more supply.

[SqzMyLemon]

I forgot to mention in the last turn update that Kweiyang has been completely abandoned by the Chinese. It looks doubtful whether the Chinese will stand and fight anywhere other than the north and possibly Chungking if it comes to that. The chances to inflict losses on the enemy will be few until I reach Kunming, and then it will be more siege than assault. It's going to be interesting trying to maneuver to get an advantage. The lack of fighting is definitely helping me move forward and conserving my strength though.

I just finished buying out all elements of the 28th Division, so they will recombine on Guadalcanal eventually. I'm still short of troops generally, but if Lunga goes well, that will be a lot of troops freed up for deployment elsewhere while leaving behind a stronger force for defence. I'm trying not to get ahead of myself. I haven't captured Lunga yet and there's still a long way to go.

Tomorrow is still critical to get troops ashore unmolested and then switch gears to get the support units organized for the landing at Lunga in about two weeks time. Lot's to do.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

At what point do you use up your merchant ship points pool? I have 65k+ and figure I better start accelerating a bunch of large tankers. Is there any reason to having points in the pool after 1943? I already have a bunch of smaller merchant shipyards turned off to conserve HI.

Turn if off!! Turn it off!!

I would accelerate all your CVEs, then large TKs, and maybe some of your Std A and B xAKs.

I was wondering what to do with all of those little 9 knot xAKLs that won't convert and aren't good for much. Now I know. Don't build them!

[SqzMyLemon]

Yeah, I stopped all those little xAKL of 828 ton capacity a long time ago.

I'm curious to see the HI gains when most of the merchant yards are turned off while I eat into my surplus. I'm definitely accelerating a lot of tankers from now on. I should have done this months ago. I get a couple of 11600 ton tankers right away here. Drill baby, drill!

[SqzMyLemon]

Sigh, finally figured out my taxes today and it doesn't look good. If the AAR slows down, it may be a result of having to spend time on streetcorners selling myself to the older biddies with bunyans to cover the tax bill. That, or I sell off some of the unbuilt model collection.

I need to whack something...perhaps Lunga again with six BB's. That outta relieve some stress.

[crsutton]

RE:Burma or China,

Burma is more important. If you can't win the race to cut him off from Burma then all is not lost. The loss of Chungking will take China out of the war for all purposes and even if you can't take the western portion. You can drive deep enough to set up a very tough defensive line. One which he will never be able to drive you out of unless he uses other Allied troops. And quite frankly, as long as you hold Rangoon, he will not have enough supply flowing into China to mount any offensive. On the other hand, his Chinese troops that flee to Burma can now rebuild and he gets a division's worth of squads every month. And, he can and will use those troops to retake Burma.

At this point if you don't think you can cut his escape then I would clean up China and then set up a strong defensive line around Kumming. Then start shifting some of your freed up Chinese troops the long way to Burma and the DEI. You can't hold Burma forever but the longer the better. Your position in China now assures you that it will never be a suitable base of operations for the Allies. You should not have to worry about it. Your only real purpose in Burma is to hold as long as you can. Be mindful that by late 43 he will have enough amphibious lift to bypass Burma and perhaps trap you. In my game as the Allies, I ignored Burma and landed at Sabang. Besides, once China is lost Burma has no real value to the Allies. It is best for them to just shoot for the DEI and Japanese oil.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: crsutton

... once China is lost Burma has no real value to the Allies...

+1

[SqzMyLemon]

Next turn is away.

I've decided not to do anything in Burma just yet after crsutton's and Pax's posts. I don't want to encourage any Allied movement there just yet, and I fear if I move on Paoshan it may just encourage one. We'll see how China goes first and where the Chinese forces end up taking a stand. Short term is grab Kweiyang, chase the Chinese to Kunming and divert forces north to envelop Chungking and capture Chengtu.

Let's see if anything happens in the Solomons.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

At what point do you use up your merchant ship points pool? I have 65k+ and figure I better start accelerating a bunch of large tankers. Is there any reason to having points in the pool after 1943? I already have a bunch of smaller merchant shipyards turned off to conserve HI.

Turn if off!! Turn it off!!

I would accelerate all your CVEs, then large TKs, and maybe some of your Std A and B xAKs.

Don't the merchant ship points also get used to accelerate patrol craft and other small craft? Please correct me if I'm wrong here...

I'd save some to MSPs to keep on hand for accelerating the escort vessels, TK and CVEs. I can't get enough of those PC and SC craft for home waters defense.

[Chickenboy]

I keep forgetting that you're hamstrung with PDU off...[:@]

Don't feel too bad about your D3A2s then. You can always save the surplus for Kamikaze duty later in the war. Having a 1E LBA that you can put on any old dumpy size 2 AF for behind-the-MLR kamikaze duty could be beneficial. Still, I'd get out of 'em as soon as possible.

[PaxMondo]

SC are NSY.  PB are MSY.  Not sure about PC, but IJ doesn't get too many of those ... not sure any in fact.  Can't recall any right now at least.

[SqzMyLemon]

Lots of interesting talk about Japanese production and economy in a number of AAR's recently, so I sat down last night and briefly looked things over.

I'll be reducing the number of operating merchant shipyards dramatically after I get the Allied turn back. Merchant shipyard points pool is at 62k+ (not 65k+ as l mentioned earlier) so I have plenty to work with. My priority will be accelerating tankers.

I had reloaded tracker a number of times and lost the ability to track individual regions. Seeing how to reset them in another thread, I was able to look at specific regions once again and I have some work to do. Japan is down to 60 days worth of oil and supply is at about 680k. Expansion and fixing mistakes have taken it's toll on supply levels. I've also been shipping out massive quantities to forward areas. I need to run a leaner Japan for the remainder of 43.

I'm confident my recent merchant and tanker fleet reorganizations will begin to produce the results I'm looking for. The first mega-tanker TF to leave Singapore in awhile is carrying 160k worth of oil to the Home Islands. The recent restocking of fuel at Manus and Rabaul frees up an additional 150k worth of capacity. More oil will be extracted from smaller bases, while large fuel stockpiles on Java and Sumatra will be reduced from more efficient tanker operations.

In my next game as Japan, I definitely will look at experimenting with expanding LI in the Home Islands and China/Manchuria. It's a long term investment and if done smartly could pay big dividends later in the war in my opinion.

Armaments are already scaled way back and I have 80k+ in the pool. I'm producing 300 vehicle points daily and I'm slowly increasing the stockpile. Naval shipyard points pool is steady at around 2k, and I'm accelerating every E and DD I can right now. I also have 3 CV's and a CL accelerated.

I'll be posting more another time, but with the focus on the Solomons and the disruption to my shipping winding down somewhat, I'll be able to concentrate on getting stockpiles back up and everything moving to Japan once again. I have enough supply forward to ease the burden on the Home Islands. Supply stockpiles at Balikpapan and Palembang are being distrubuted now to further reduce the load on the Home Islands.

Any questions or requests for info just shout.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

...will look at experimenting with expanding LI in the Home Islands and China/Manchuria. It's a long term investment and if done smartly could pay big dividends later in the war in my opinion...

1000 days is your payback on LI. Very hard to justify in this game. By the time it starts paying dividends, the B-29s are trashing it. Better to manage your supply usage, which is what actually happened IRL.

[ny59giants]

Southern Sumatra

I use two TF with the 7950 capacity TKs to move fuel to Singapore that have PB/SC and get under the 48k port limit. Then I use those little 1250 capacity TKs to come in and pick up the oil. If you try to use large TKs, it takes too much time docked to load.

If you have too much fuel at Palembang, I use small TKs to go from Oosthaven to Batavia. Using those coverted Std A, B, C, and D xAKs to TKs are great to get oil/fuel from smaller ports (size 4 or less) to bigger ports for your faster and larger TKs.

Slightly OT: Oil will STOP producing at both Taihuko (Formosa) and Shikuka (Sahkalin) if you don't move it often enough. They are both small producers, but every little drop helps.

[SqzMyLemon]

All the major fuel/oil producing centres are taken care of, it's the smaller bases like Boela, Babo, Tarakan, Miri and Brunei that I'm not emptying efficiently. My reorganization should take care of everything now. I'm predicting decent numbers by the end of 43. [8D]

Other than current R&D repairs and bumping up Judy production there should be no additional supply consumption in the Home Islands for much of 43. I'm expecting to see the supply levels recover nicely. Resource flow to the Home Islands is already pretty good, but my reorganization should see the total increase substantially.

1943 was always going to be a recover and streamline year for me in terms of production, and I'm well on my way to improving numbers across the board. I just have to keep the Allies far enough away for the remainder of 43. This is my goal for the year, keep the fuel/oil centres safe from Allied strategic bombing.

Now, I just need a turn so I can continue to tweek.

[SqzMyLemon]

Another turn in the inbox. [8D]

I mentioned "interesting times" in the e-mail and Bart took that to mean something momentous was going to happen today. I'll have to disappoint him, but Bart does seem rather calm for someone faced with a mounting counterattack on Guadalcanal. Perhaps he hasn't grasped the scope of the operation yet, or figures he's in good shape (which he is).

I hate sitting through this last hour and a bit at work when I know I have a turn waiting. If all goes well today, my troops will finish unloading at Tassafaronga and I can get a lot of valuable shipping out of the area. I'm also interested in seeing if my shock attack in China goes better today, being fully supplied this time. With the new minefields laid, hearing a boom during the replay would make my day as well.

Turn update later.

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

Japan is down to 60 days worth of oil and supply is at about 680k. Expansion and fixing mistakes have taken it's toll on supply levels. I've also been shipping out massive quantities to forward areas. I need to run a leaner Japan for the remainder of 43.

In my next game as Japan, I definitely will look at experimenting with expanding LI in the Home Islands and China/Manchuria. It's a long term investment and if done smartly could pay big dividends later in the war in my opinion.

Armaments are already scaled way back and I have 80k+ in the pool. I'm producing 300 vehicle points daily and I'm slowly increasing the stockpile. Naval shipyard points pool is steady at around 2k, and I'm accelerating every E and DD I can right now. I also have 3 CV's and a CL accelerated.

Oil in Japan is a losing proposition. You don't produce near enough to keep your refineries busy there throughout the war. Just keep shipping it in. Remember, though, when the glut is gone, your supply production in the Home Islands with decrease as well. It should be fine, but keep an eye on it to be sure.

I agree with Pax that LI takes too long to just break even. 1000 days. That's around Sep 44 to break even from increased LI on 7 Dec 41. [X(]

Why bother accelerating the CL?

[SqzMyLemon]

Feb. 20/43:

Sub Ops:

SS S-32 duds on xAK Unkai Maru #3 near Rekata Bay.

I'm alarmed at the complete lack of ASW TF's interdicting enemy submarines of late. It's like my forces are completely asleep.

China:

Heavy air attacks hit Chinese forces N.W. of Ankang. The enemy suffers 0(6) infantry and 1(20) non-combat squads lost totalling 221 casualties.

The Shock Attack follows and the Chinese are routed. AAR follows:
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Ground combat at 81,41 (near Ankang)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 24008 troops, 225 guns, 56 vehicles, Assault Value = 823

Defending force 7721 troops, 76 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 245

Japanese adjusted assault: 588

Allied adjusted defense: 100

Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-)

Japanese ground losses:
491 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 55 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled

Allied ground losses:
3205 casualties reported
Squads: 80 destroyed, 65 disabled
Non Combat: 88 destroyed, 31 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 29 (14 destroyed, 15 disabled)
Units retreated 4

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
6th Division
35th Division
5th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
33rd Chinese Corps
47th Chinese Corps
1st War Area
2nd Group Army

The Gilbert Islands:

Allied bombers target Nonouti today and the Japanese Yokosuka 6th SNLF suffers 2(2) infantry squad losses totalling 15 casualties.

The Solomons:

Ki-21-IIb Sally's (21) fly today and hit Lunga's airbase. A pathetic 1 AB hit is recorded. Hopefully, this will improve, but it just confirms my lack of faith in Japanese tactical air power to be effective if relied upon to shut anything down alone. Japanese air power is great in China, everywhere else...meh.

An unlucky turn as the DD Umikaze collides with BB Fuso en route to the staging area for the next bombardment of Lunga. Damage to the BB is minimal at 5/1/1/0 but the DD is in a bad way with 6/49/13/0. Off to the yards for her. I've been having a fair number of collisions lately and this TF only had four ships in it.

An enemy TF of two ships is spotted S.W. of Milne Bay today. My guess is it's a small surface TF trying to get into position to attack Japanese ASW in the area, or another attempt to disrupt landing operations at Tassafaronga. I will alert LBA and send in a small SCTF of my own. Troop unloading at Tassafaronga was a disappointment again today. Not one TF completely unloaded, so I still have a lot of shipping vulnerable to attack. I will keep some unloading, but I may withdraw some of the larger ships temporarily until the coast is clear. I also received a "heavy volume of radio traffic" message for Noumea today, so it could be a strong SCTF moving North. The pucker factor is starting to increase somewhat.

Miscellaneous:

Japan:

Kusaie Island expands airfield to size 3
Tassafaronga expands fortifications to size 1
Boeton expands airfield to size 1

TK Arita Maru arrives at Maizuru (8150 capacity)

Allied:

Nothing

Thoughts:

I looked at CVE's, there are only two in my opinion worth completing out of the five remaining to be built. One has 33 aircraft capacity, the other 24. The remaining three have 12, 8 and 8 capacity. Yep, these last three will be mothballed.

I will reorganize my amphibious TF's unloading at Tasafaronga, but it's time to bug out soon. Tick..tick...tick

To answer your earlier question Mike, I'm accelerating the CL because I want it available when it will be effective. Waiting to produce any combat ships till 44 or later seems like a waste to me, especially if things go sour and I don't have much of a fleet left by then. One CL won't change things in a year, but it might make a difference now.