Rise of the Sheep! JocMeister(A) vs. Obvert(J)

[JocMeister]

Rangoon Turkey Shoot

169 enemy planes are shot down for the cost of 15 P47s. Quite happy with that. Sad news is that another triple ace went MIA after the raid. But I gained 2 new ones! [:)]

I hope this was a clear message that open airfield or not the Allies rule the airspace over Rangoon.

Battle of Lautem.
Sadly all but one of the Fletchers are sunk after the battle. [:(] None of the LRCAP flew for unknown reasons. Weather was light rain, settings correct. A shame. [:(] I´m glad I sent the invasion TF back as I don´t think I would have been able to unload during the night. Perhaps the loss of the Fletcher TF can be justified by the fact that Erik sent all strike AC here and nothing against the main landings at Sorong.

Thrym
The Waigeo troops will attack next turn while the Sorong forces will need 1-2 days of resting before the first attack. Don´t know why but they are quite fatigued after the landing. Base forces are already in place at Sarmi and can quickly be shuttled in once a base falls. The Tank Battalion at Sansapor will dig in for now.

So far the losses for Operation Thrym Phase 2 are none besides some Search AC shot down. Everything went flawlessly! [:)]

Here is a screen of the AC losses.

[JocMeister]

KB

Here is a screen of KBs position. Completely out of position and unable to interfere with Thrym. [&o] Wake is placed on high alert and 350 Fighters are alerted. I have a Tanker TF unloading there. I´ll stop the unloading and withdraw them a bit. Its unlikely Erik will make a full speed run for Wake but better safe than sorry!

Perhaps Erik believes KB won´t be able to stand up against the combined Allied CV fleet or he places greater value on the Marianas then I do? For me thats still a sideshow for fun while the Allied advance towards the Philippines continue. Marianas will be secured before 44 is up. Main reason for this is to secure a LOC through the Pacific to the Philippines. As a matter of fact 3800 AV is prepping for Saipan and Guam right now.

[JocMeister]

More Allied toys

Nice "little" tank unit. [&o][:D]

[JocMeister]

[center]Operation Thrym update[/center]

[JocMeister]

Airwar

While I have inflicted quite heavy casualties on the IJ air force over the last few weeks things are starting to look dire for the USAAF pools. This is an ongoing problem throughout the game. But at no point is it as problematic as this period. Right now I´m only getting 30 P51Bs and 80 P38Ls for the entire USAAF. Even the utterly useless P40 has stopped producing by now. This at a time when the empire is producing something like 1500-2000 planes PER MONTH.

And don´t let the JFBs cries about lots of airframes arriving via reinforcements fool you. Between 11/43 and 11/44 you get 75 P47s and 50 P51Ds. So thats an additional 10 aircraft per month...[8|]

Right now I have around 820 P47s and 100 P51s including the airframes on map. While that sounds like plenty it needs to last until 11/44 when the P51D kicks in with 120 planes per month. Thats 4 months away and I need to plan accordingly. I have 450 P47s in the pool and they need to last. That means I need to cut down on offensive OPS conducted by the USAAF. That means the USAAF involvement in Burma will change from now on. I will be a lot less aggressive with USAAF planes. The RAF will have to take a bigger part which is hard with the small 16 plane units.

P38s have pretty much run their course by now and can´t be relied on for air superiority. They will be piloted by freshly combat trained pilots (50/70/70). I won´t waste my 80+ pilots in them. Recents test show I still come out on top with roughly 2:1 against Jap fighters on long range sweep. This indicates Erik might be starting to suffer a bit on the pilot front.

[JocMeister]

Top pilots

[House Stark]

Glad to see that Thrym is off to a good start! Pity about the Fletchers, but you can afford to occasionally trade DDs at a 3-1 rate, considering that you get at least twice as many as he does from the US Navy alone.

I've got a couple thoughts about the fighter pools issue. First, the Brits get about 100 Tbolts/Spits/Corsairs, so that's probably enough to keep up the fighting in Burma with occasional USAAF involvement. Where are your New Zealand and Australian fighter groups? I believe those start getting some first rate fighters sometime in 1944; they might be good in Burma or to support your DEI/New Guinea advance. And how are your US Navy fighter and pilot pools? You get 180 of a slightly better Hellcat starting in July, and 158 Corsairs starting in September. I don't know if you're using them on the front lines or for training, but those fighter groups from the carriers you lost early in the war do provide some nasty sweeps with their 36 plane size.

[BBfanboy]

Your Operation Thrym is taking place in the same area Adm. Spruance has been fighting in his AAR. He just took Morotai and has had bloody battles in several of the other bases in North NG and surrounding islands. His opponent reinforced heavily by air. Might be worthwhile for you to review what he did and how it worked out.

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: House Stark

Glad to see that Thrym is off to a good start! Pity about the Fletchers, but you can afford to occasionally trade DDs at a 3-1 rate, considering that you get at least twice as many as he does from the US Navy alone.

I've got a couple thoughts about the fighter pools issue. First, the Brits get about 100 Tbolts/Spits/Corsairs, so that's probably enough to keep up the fighting in Burma with occasional USAAF involvement. Where are your New Zealand and Australian fighter groups? I believe those start getting some first rate fighters sometime in 1944; they might be good in Burma or to support your DEI/New Guinea advance. And how are your US Navy fighter and pilot pools? You get 180 of a slightly better Hellcat starting in July, and 158 Corsairs starting in September. I don't know if you're using them on the front lines or for training, but those fighter groups from the carriers you lost early in the war do provide some nasty sweeps with their 36 plane size.

Thank you. I´m pretty pleased so far. Easy to do this kind of stuff where there is no opposition! [:D]

Problem with the RAF is that while their pools are actually pretty good they really suffer from the tiny squadron sizes. They are almost impossible to use in an offensive role. But you make a good point. I should find a way to use them more actively. Perhaps I can start using them for offensive LRCAP.

All the non perm restricted RAAF and NZ fighter squadrons are fighting in New Guinea. The OZ squadrons have been invaluable with their Spit VII! When they resized to 24 they became even more useful. I have just upgraded to NZ squadrons to Corsairs. But they are small squadrons with only 15 planes making them mostly useful for CAP and LRCAP.

Navy pools are suffering a bit too I am afraid. Corsair pool is almost empty after I upgraded to 40 plane CV squadrons. I do have some 200 Hellcats still in the pool. As you say the new version of it just started producing and when the Corsairs get bumped to 158 the Navy can really start doing some attrition! But for now I have to watch the pools very carefully. All 6 of the CV squadrons from the lost CVs are fighting on the frontline. They resized to 42 recently making them killer sweepers as you say! [&o] When I can upgrade them to Corsairs Erik is going to be in a world of hurt! [:D]

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Your Operation Thrym is taking place in the same area Adm. Spruance has been fighting in his AAR. He just took Morotai and has had bloody battles in several of the other bases in North NG and surrounding islands. His opponent reinforced heavily by air. Might be worthwhile for you to review what he did and how it worked out.

Thanks for the tip! I´ll check it out. [:)]

[JocMeister]

9th-10th July -44

After the Turkey shoot over Rangoon things quiet down.

Thrym
As expected Waigeo falls instantly on the 9th!

Ground combat at Waigeo (82,106)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 10102 troops, 176 guns, 171 vehicles, Assault Value = 416

Defending force 1868 troops, 23 guns, 20 vehicles, Assault Value = 55

Allied adjusted assault: 261

Japanese adjusted defense: 3

Allied assault odds: 87 to 1 (fort level 3)

Allied forces CAPTURE Waigeo !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
766 casualties reported
Squads: 88 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 48 destroyed, 30 disabled
Engineers: 13 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 29 (28 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 21 (21 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Allied ground losses:
204 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

So this means that even if Sorong becomes a drawn out affair we can move forward. Due to the fact that KB was spotted again completely out of position between Wake and Marianas [X(] I decided to instantly reload one of the Amphibs with BFs and Engineers for Waigeo. I also have two LST TFs picking up more arty for Sorong and Noemfoor. This will be a small operation in itself.
-Deliver BFs to Waigo
-Deliver Arty to Sorong
-More Naval bombardment of Sorong

After that I will try the first deliberate attack of Sorong. Fingers crossed the Tanks and HQ prepp will make it quick work.

Following a hunch I exchanged A. Noble of the 2nd Marine division. This was the result.

Ground combat at Nabire (86,114)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 11367 troops, 226 guns, 139 vehicles, Assault Value = 378

Defending force 5460 troops, 50 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 146

Allied adjusted assault: 334

Japanese adjusted defense: 76

Allied assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 1)

Allied forces CAPTURE Nabire !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker: leaders(+) This is a worse leader then Noble! [X(] Bug?

Japanese ground losses:
1607 casualties reported
Squads: 74 destroyed, 14 disabled
Non Combat: 77 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 11 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 19 (15 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Units retreated 5

Allied ground losses:
106 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 21 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)

I´m starting to think something might be bugged with Noble? Should I post in the tech support?

Now I only need to secure Noemfoor to complete phase 1 of Thrym! The 4Es will lend a hand here and I hope the extra arty will help out. Troops are recovering a lot better now that I landed more support. Fatigue is down under 20 and disruption is completely gone!

New Guinea
Frantic shipping of troops, supply and fuel. I have some 200 xAKs and xAPs hauling stuff forward.

Aitape finally fell! [&o]

Ground combat at Aitape (95,118)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 34530 troops, 703 guns, 760 vehicles, Assault Value = 1284

Defending force 10932 troops, 131 guns, 22 vehicles, Assault Value = 170

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Allied adjusted assault: 585

Japanese adjusted defense: 105

Allied assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 1)

Allied forces CAPTURE Aitape !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), fatigue(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
3692 casualties reported
Squads: 147 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 191 destroyed, 29 disabled
Engineers: 123 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 55 (54 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 23 (23 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 4

Allied ground losses:
192 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 19 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 50 disabled

Just moving in a small BF with an infantry Battalion for protection. I thought Erik would sucide his troops but it looks like they are moving towards Vanimo. I have an ID at Wewak that will attack shortly. Hollandia and Vanimo will be completely bypassed.

Burma
Erik is moving a lot of troops South. Perhaps he has finally realised just how exposed he is in the DEI and Philippines. I don´t wan´t him to move out too much so I´m going to start shifting troops fast. I´ll leave 2000 AV at his blocking position while shifting the best troops East and firstly secure Toungoo and then start flanking east down towards Thailand. Hopefully supply won´t be a problem. This gives me a lot more room to maneuver and Erik will either have to withdraw into Thailand or risk getting everything around Rangoon cut off. I´ve started pumping up the Supply at Ramree again. I want to try and fill up central Burma with more supply. I currently have someting like 400.000 supply in Burma but most is at Ramree (100k) and Prome (200k). I will try and get some 500k into central Burma alone to help supply my main stack as it moves E/SE.

KB
I wonder what Erik saw here? I didn´t get any DL on any of my TFs but he moved deeper into the Pacific.

[JocMeister]

Burma

[BBfanboy]

KB
I wonder what Erik saw here? I didn´t get any DL on any of my TFs but he moved deeper into the Pacific.

Perhaps one of your carrier aircraft was seen by a sub or one of his TFs?

Or maybe he is sending an amphib TF to Wake? Or a raid on PH? He has to be itching to try something to throw you off your steamroller!

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Perhaps one of your carrier aircraft was seen by a sub or one of his TFs?

Or maybe he is sending an amphib TF to Wake? Or a raid on PH? He has to be itching to try something to throw you off your steamroller!

Might be! KB has turned around though and is presently NW of the Marianas so no need to cover the rear areas. Good news! [:)]

[JocMeister]

11th-12th July -44

Not much to report. Actually almost no combat at all besides Eriks bombings of Tinian. He has managed to bump up the AF damage to 22. But he is losing 8-10 AC per turn in OPS losses. I like that! [:D]

I found some interesting sigint today.

5/18th Tank Regiment is loaded on xAKL Ryuun Maru moving to Truk.

I´m pretty sure he isn´t reinforcing Truk. Is he pulling out the fragments left in the Solomons/Marshalls? Why? Moving anything out from Truk by sea is almost impossible without being detected and there is no way in hell I would allow him to ship out the 50.000 troops caught there. Ideas what he is up to?

Thrym
Here is an update on the progress of Thrym.

[Nemo121]

JocMeister,

You have 5,000 AV sitting around "guarding" stuff in Burma. Why isn't it pressing forward along suppliable axes making progress and, at the least, grinding IJA formations down - drawing replacements away from other fronts? That 5,000 AV could be doing a LOT of good instead of just wasting supplies there.

[DOCUP]

Keep up the good work.  Glad to see that your happy with the game.  Start pounding on him in Burma make him use supplies both their and HI.

[BBfanboy]

That sigint on the tank regiment could mean he is trying to bring out fragments to rebuild the units. I'm sure he knows that he will not be able to move out the whole 50K. I presume he cannot reach the cut-off troops by Emily or Mavis?

[Bullwinkle58]

I have to second what Nemo said. In the flow here it will get quickly forgotten in the midst of "blow stuff up!" posts, but I urge you to take some time and think about what he said. In 1944-45 the Allied player simply must become aware of the Japanese economy and its pressure points. You have the OOB to win; now you have to grind the life out of him.

ONE armament point costs him 6 HI points--a good piece of a fighter plane. To replace one squad lost costs him 1 armament point plus Manpower. Destroyed guns are even more expensive; they're the load cost in arms points and Manpower points. So grinding on him in Burma, and in China where you can (Chinese infantry, with supply, can really eat up Japanese squads in 1944), has more far-reaching consequences than just local AV effects. You're destroying his ability to make air defense at home, to force him to slow down his Home Island defense prep to pay pilot taxes. To really have to allocate his fuel to keep the HI points flowing as he must make more and more armament and vehicle points or see his front-line units hollowed out.

Burma's job in the game can be what it was in RL. A bleeder. The war wasn't won in Burma, but the investments Japan made there cost them a lot. Grind him down. You'll be happy you did once you're at the doorstep of Honshu.

[Cpt Sherwood]

Add another echo. You have to apply pressure everywhere you can.