The Turning Point: floydg (A) & Coach Z (J) -- Luganville liberated

[floydg]

July 19, 1942

Highlights: Invasion of Broome repulsed

• South of Tokyo, the SS Argonaut is hit and must return to port for repairs.
• More American troops unload at Adak Island. Japanese planes attack the ships, scoring a torpedo hit on the DD Aaron Ward.
• Twelve PT boats sail from Noumea to Koumac and find the CA Ashigara and get six hits on her before retiring back to Noumea.
• More Japanese troops unload at Broome. The Indian division later attacks and destroys the SNLF unit.
• Japanese carrier aircraft attack Noumea, causing minor damage to the facilities.
• Carrier aircraft from the CV Junyo attack the British CV Illustrious TF and score a bomb hit on the CLAA Capetown.
• The Japanese make an attack just south of Darwin and cause about 700 casualties for each side.

Analysis: Still no chance for relief at Noumea. I don't know how much longer his carriers can remain on station and still keep striking.
In Australia, it seems that the end is near for Broome, but maybe I still have a week or two.

[floydg]

July 20, 1942

Highlights: Marines attack at Adak Island to no avail

• East of Townsville, the SS RO-64 is attacked by a 4xDD ASW TF. A small number of hits are reported.
• Japanese Zero's sweep Broome and shoot down 4 Allied planes.
• American planes from Noumea strike the CA Ashigara at Koumac. One bomb hit is scored on the already-damaged cruiser.
• At Adak Island, Japanese carrier planes strike the escorting DD and score hits on the the DD Gilmer and DD Ralph Talbot. The DD Gilmer takes 4 bombs and a torpedo and is listing badly.
• Japanese bombers hit Darwin and Broome, causing moderate damage.
• Outside Broome, a Hudson hits the DD Isonami with a bomb.
• The Japanese attack at La Foa and reduce the fortifications, but take over 800 casualties to the under 400 Allied casualties.
• Japanese troops advancing on Broome locate a small Australian contingent and force them to retreat to Broome.
• Just South of Darwin, the Japanese attack again, but their attack is foiled and they take over 1500 casualties to 400 Australians.
• The 1st USMC Division attacks at Adak Island and is too tired to make any headway.
• The airfield at Kodiak increase to level 4.

Analysis: I should have rested the Marines longer - their fatigue is too high for a decent attack. Plus supply levels are too low. Guess I need more logistic support before I can attack again.
South of Darwin, I seem to be holding, but I get the feeling that he's got something planned -- like invading Darwin again now that all of my troops are out. Maybe I should fall back.

[floydg]

July 21, 1942

Highlights: Japanese attack at La Foa foiled

• A group of 6 American PT boats meet a small Japanese TF at La Foa. One PT boat is sunk (one hit), but the DD Kagero and DD Okikaze are reported hit by shells. The Japanese then bombard, causing slight damage. The Japanese then attack, but fail miserably, taking over 3000 casualties to just over 400 Allied.
• The Japanese conduct multiple naval bombardments of Broome, causing moderate damage.
• American DB and TB at Noumea attack Japanese ships at Koumac, but score no hits. Japanese carrier planes strike back causing slight airfield damage.
• Nells from Attu score two torpedo hits on the AP President Johnson unloading supplies at Adak Island.
• Toyama expands the airfield to level 2.

Analysis: Looks like New Caledonia may hold longer than I expected. The attack at La Foa should set him back at least a week before he can recover and try again. Well, I hope, anyway.
I am slowly sneaking the CV Wasp up to the Aleutians to join the CV Hornet. Maybe I'll be able to orchestrate an ambush on the CV Hiyo...

Here is a picture of the situation in Northern Australia:
A = 1st Aus Cav Div, 6th Aus Cav Bde, 632 USA TD Bn vs. one Japanese tank regiment, but there is another tank regiment and SNLF (?) just north, probably moving in soon.
B = Two Aus Div, HQ, Tank Rgt vs. 2 Inf Div, Inf Bde, Para Rgt, 2 Armor Rgt, 2 Eng Rgt and Mortar Bn; and he has two units marching over now.
The damaged Warspite and Royal Sovereign are "sneaking" out of port to East Australia, since they can't really repair there. Of course Coach Z knows they're leaving, but I just have to hope they won't get struck.
Over at Broome, he's marching over. I'm trying to move some units outside Broome south, since it's a death warrant sitting there at Broome. NE is the CV Junyo and further east are some CA retiring after shelling Broome.

[floydg]

July 22, 1942

Highlights: Bombing of Port Moresby

• American PT boats sneak up to Koumac, jockey for position with the CA Ashigara, but then break off.
• 65 Allied bombers from Australia bomb Port Moresby. 34 Japanese planes are destroyed at the cost of 11 bombers.
• In the Indian Ocean, Japanese float planes attack a transport TF. No damage is caused.
• At Suva, the SS I-153 sneaks into the choked harbor and puts a torpedo in the AK West Notus.

Analysis: It was a relatively quiet turn. I did do some damage to his planes at Port Moresby, but I lost a bit more than I had hoped for - especially the B-17E's, which have no planes in the pool.
He did manage to get a CS (I'm guessing) into the Indian Ocean to mess with my shipping from India to Australia. Fortunately, they're just float planes, but I'll have to scramble some surface ships and my British carrier up there to deal with the threat.

[floydg]

July 23, 1942

Highlights: Sub attack at Suva

• The SS I-153 attacks again, this time putting two torpedoes into the AK West Ivis and then surfaced to put two shell hits into her. ASW of 5xDD locate the sub and pound it, getting one direct hit and 11 near misses.
• The Allies bombard Adak Island and cause only slight damage.
• All around, various air-to-ground attacks on troops by both sides were met with just slight results.
• DD Gilmer sinks at Dutch Harbor, succumbing from damage suffered from July 20.

Analysis: The I-153 is a real thorn in my side - it has sunk or damaged about 5 ships, including a cruiser. Glad I put some significant damage on her.
Otherwise, things were relatively quiet, which is good when you're still on the defensive.

[floydg]

July 24, 1942

Highlights: CA Ashigara finally sinks

• Six PT boats from La Foa attack the CA Ashigara. The PT boat Captains notice the cruiser listing badly and withdraw without firing a shot. The cruiser later sinks.
• The Japanese bomb Ichang with 27xSonia and 47xLily, escorted by 47xOscar. The Allies meet them with 6xI-153c and 8xP-40B of the AVG. Three Chinese fighters are downed and one AVG plane is downed, but they shoot down 6xLily, 3xSonia and 2xOscar. Moderate airbase damage is done.
• Just north of Darwin, a Japanese transport TF is located. A Beaufort puts a torpedo into an escorting minesweeper and sinks it.
• North of Canton, the Chinese attack, but are easily repulsed.

Analysis: The CA Ashigara was damaged during a surface action on June 26th, but the ship finally sank today. Now maybe my PT boats will go after something useful at Koumac.
I got an Australian division back at Darwin, which was just in time, since it appears the Japanese were about to make another naval landing there. I had moved out all of the combat troops to block him outside Darwin, but recently had some misgivings about it, since the port had almost no AV left. The invasion TF may turn back now (and I did sink one MSW escort).
I am having trouble making headway in China (who isn't?). We're in the open, I outnumber him in AV almost 3-1, but when I attack, it's always 0-1 (last one was starting 2107 on 853, adjusted to 917 on 2091!). I don't have too many more Chinese to add in here... am I hopelessly stuck?

[n01487477]

Hi Floyd,
SS I-153 must have a great Captain and crew to be doing so well!
Interesting problem in China, and one of the major bug-bears of any game, land combat that is ...

What type of land hex are you fighting over?

That's the only thing I can think of ... apart from disruption, supply levels, HQ distance etc

[floydg]

ORIGINAL: n01487477

Hi Floyd,
SS I-153 must have a great Captain and crew to be doing so well!
Interesting problem in China, and one of the major bug-bears of any game, land combat that is ...

What type of land hex are you fighting over?

That's the only thing I can think of ... apart from disruption, supply levels, HQ distance etc

Phooey on the I-153. And yes, the captain is agressive - he surfaced several times to shoot at AKs with his deck gun.

In China, the hex is "Lw". Not sure what that really means...

[n01487477]

Isn't Lw, Land wooded ?

Oa - Ocean, deep water
Ow - Ocean, shallow water
Lm - Land, mountains
Ld - Land, desert
Lc - Land, cultivated??
Ls - Land, swamp??
Lw - Land, forest??
Cu - Coastal, urban
Lu - Land, urban
Ca - Coastal, atoll
Cc - Coastal, cultivated??
Cs - Coastal, swamp??

I'd say that the defender is getting some kind of terrain combat modifier, but I'm not sure by how much, maybe a more knowledgeable General needs to chip in here ...
I'm only a grunt on the front lines ... [:D]

[edit]Scuttlebutt from the troops on the front lines ...

[ny59giants]

He gets the x2 combat bonus for woods. Then, there is the strong possibility that if his LCUs have been in that hex for some time, they will start to build up fortifications. Look at some of your own LCUs that are not in a base over a period of a few days to weeks. When you click on the icon, in the upper right corner you will see "Fortifications." The most I've seen is level 3. This example is a level 1 (building).

[floydg]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

He gets the x2 combat bonus for woods. Then, there is the strong possibility that if his LCUs have been in that hex for some time, they will start to build up fortifications. Look at some of your own LCUs that are not in a base over a period of a few days to weeks. When you click on the icon, in the upper right corner you will see "Fortifications." The most I've seen is level 3. This example is a level 1 (building).

Yeah, could be that.

I have the forts at level 5... [X(]



And they've been in the hex for 80+ days...

I'll have to work on his supply (mine is good) and increase his disruption. That'll be the only way too root him out.

[ny59giants]

Next is to go through all the leaders of each unit in the hex.
How does prep levels affect combat in a non-base hex, if at all??
Number of support squads in the HQ that are not disabled?? Usually, the HQs take more than their share of combat damage than infantry.
Running out of possible, "what if"..... [;)]

[floydg]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Next is to go through all the leaders of each unit in the hex.
How does prep levels affect combat in a non-base hex, if at all??
Number of support squads in the HQ that are not disabled?? Usually, the HQs take more than their share of combat damage than infantry.
Running out of possible, "what if"..... [;)]

Yeah, these are Chinese leaders, so not that stellar.
Some Corps have decent experience, but quite low morale.
Support for most units is in the red, so that could also be an issue.

[floydg]

July 25, 1942

Highlights: American sub sinks MSW, Japanese sub pounded by ASW

• Japanese bombard Broome with 4xCA, CL and 2xDD. Minor damage is done. Later, 42 bombers from Derby attack. The five planes on CAP attack the 22 escorts, and two Australian fighters are downed to 2 Oscars and 3 Sallys. Moderate damage is done to the airbase.
• At Wake, the SS Pompano torpedoes and sinks the MSW Banshu Maru #52.
• Around Noumea, Zeros strafe American PT boats and AK's. PT-124 is sunk and three AK's are shot up nicely. But one Zero is shot down by AA.
• In the waters between Australia and New Guinea, 4 DD escorting two heavily damaged British BB find the SS RO-63 and score one direct hit and 9 minor hits.
• Directly South of Darwin, the Japanese attack. The Australian's hold, but since one Australian division returned to Darwin, the defenders are on shaky ground.
• A little further south, a fight over supply lines rages on with an unsuccessful Japanese attack.

Analysis: I hope the RO-63 doesn't make it. It's been shadowing the heavily damaged BB Warspite and the slightly less damaged BB Royal Sovereign. The challenge now will be to get past Port Moresby. I'll try to suppress the airfield with 4E bombers from Australia.
South of Darwin, I realized that I moved the whole division out when I should have moved out fragments. Now he'll probably make a big attack and force me to retreat.

[floydg]

July 26, 1942

Highlights: Darwin defenders retreat back to Darwin

• American BB, 2xCA and 2xCL bombard Adak Island. Minor damage is done.
• The Japanese bomb Kunming from Burma and cause some damage to the base and some aircraft.
• 27 4E bombers from Australia hit Port Moresby. One bomber is shot down to two CAP Zeros. Slight damage is done to the airfield.
• 46 Japanese bombers from Port Moresby hit Thursday Island, causing moderate damage to the airbase and a loss of some Beaufighter Mk 21's.
• Japanese bomb Broome from Derby and cause more damage, but six escorting Japanese fighters are downed by the 6 plane CAP.
• Japanese make an attack at LaFoa. The engineers destroy some of the fortifications, but the defenders hold, and the Japanese take almost 2400 casualties to 350 Allied defenders.
• Just south of Darwin, the Japanese attack and force the Australians to retreat back to Darwin.
• A small picket force outside of Broome is attacked and retreats to Broome.
• Sendai reportedly increases their port size to 6 and Dacca and Tarawa airfields expand to level 6 and 2, respectively.

Analysis: I knew I'd be knocked back to Darwin. I suppose since I forced him out once, I may be able to do it again. We'll see. This battle has been raging for weeks (since mid-June).
I think my defense of New Caledonia is okay - I am just starting to unload another US Infantry division at Noumea I was able to sneak in during the rains.

[floydg]

July 27, 1942

Highlights: Skies over Imphal blackened by Japanese bombers; Darwin defenders retreat

• Japanese bomb Imphal. Over 120 bombers and 80 escorts (including 10 Tojo) take on 28 British fighters. The British hold their own, shooting down 10 Oscars and one bomber, losing 10 Hurricane II and 4 Spitfire. The airbase took moderate damage.
• A small contingent (9) of B-24D bombed Port Moresby. 21 fighters intercept and just damage the bombers. Only two Nell's are destroyed on the ground because the bulk of the aircraft based there were on their way to bomb Thursday Island, where they did minor damage.
• Two large transport TF's sneak into Noumea harbor and begin unloading a US Infantry division and a USN base force. As the troops are almost unloaded, 21 Ann's from Koumac strike. The AK San Angelo takes three bombs, the AK Momaclark takes five, and the AK Manoa takes one. Betty's from Luganville attempt to bomb as well, but don't connect.
• Darwin is bombed, with minor effect.
• Just south of Darwin, the Japanese attack the weakened Australian defenders. The Australians retreat back to Darwin. One Japanese armored unit pursues.
• Funafuti expands the port to size 3 and Nome expands the airfield to size 4.

Analysis: The bombing run over Imphal had me worried. He could have done a lot more damage than he did, and with that many bombers based in Burma, I'm not sure how much headway I can make in Burma. Plus, those Tojo's seem to be invincible against the British fighters (the only three Tojo's lost so far have been via Ops losses). If he turns his sights on Kohima, I could take quite a few ground losses, since I have over 100 planes based there.
I just got those troops into Noumea. Coach Z ranted about seeing them "forever" and was never able to muster a strike. Those transports have been parked about 10 hexes south of Noumea for quite a while... [8|] Having another Infantry division and BF will make a difference. I can now hold La Foa much easier (I hope) and base more aircraft at Noumea (SBD group on the way). The Noumea forts are now a 9.
At Darwin, he has beaten me back to the city, unfortunately. I really shouldn't have pulled back a whole division, which set this up for him. So it's back to defending at Darwin itself. Hopefully, one more Infantry division on its way up from the east will help break the blockade so I can cut his supply lines.

[n01487477]

As a Japanese player, I've always been beaten up by the "Flying Tigers", the AVG over the skies of Burma. Not sure how they are modelled in Stock, but in BB1.4 they were murder!

While, 120 Betty's are nothing to laugh about,they do suffer from low morale levels and high fatigue after just a few strikes ... so they can be a bit toothless, if you can catch them on the ground or up against numerically superior fighter cap -Vs fighter escort ... with well experienced RAF pilots, etc ... then they will take such a battering, he will have to withdraw them.

Your point defence fighters are going to be superior to his escorts.

Really, it takes a lot to keep the IJN/IJA LB flying ... maybe your opponent doesn't have good leaders/supplies etc ... but remember if he attacks a few days in a row, then there is a window that they won't fly again the next day ... roll the dice. But be careful with sweeps...IMHO, they are just suicidal.

Those Tojo's are good planes, but they don't have a really long range (better than the Tony), if you can muster an attack on his airfields close in, he will have to redeploy and then his Betty's will come in unescorted.

So in summary:
[*]you can fly everyday, he will be lucky to achieve the same, and if he does his pilots will be fatigued.
[*]use the AVG & best point defence fighters to your advantage against the Tojo's.
[*]muster all the fighters you can and set up a cap screen (high and med-high alt + 1-2 hex range) that will leave him, with such losses, he will have to withdraw/halt ops (Japanese players hate eating into their pilot pool)...do not attack, let him incur losses ... then ...
[*]When you are ready, hit his fields on a day you think they will not fly ... and his losses are climbing.

[sigh-afterthought]I am always complaining that my Bomber wing finds it difficult to close airfields, I think that a raid by 100+ aircraft should be able to close one, but it doesn't as the Japanese player.

[floydg]

ORIGINAL: n01487477

As a Japanese player, I've always been beaten up by the "Flying Tigers", the AVG over the skies of Burma. Not sure how they are modelled in Stock, but in BB1.4 they were murder!

While, 120 Betty's are nothing to laugh about,they do suffer from low morale levels and high fatigue after just a few strikes ... so they can be a bit toothless, if you can catch them on the ground or up against numerically superior fighter cap -Vs fighter escort ... with well experienced RAF pilots, etc ... then they will take such a battering, he will have to withdraw them.

Your point defence fighters are going to be superior to his escorts.

Really, it takes a lot to keep the IJN/IJA LB flying ... maybe your opponent doesn't have good leaders/supplies etc ... but remember if he attacks a few days in a row, then there is a window that they won't fly again the next day ... roll the dice. But be careful with sweeps...IMHO, they are just suicidal.

Those Tojo's are good planes, but they don't have a really long range (better than the Tony), if you can muster an attack on his airfields close in, he will have to redeploy and then his Betty's will come in unescorted.

So in summary:
[*]you can fly everyday, he will be lucky to achieve the same, and if he does his pilots will be fatigued.
[*]use the AVG & best point defence fighters to your advantage against the Tojo's.
[*]muster all the fighters you can and set up a cap screen (high and med-high alt + 1-2 hex range) that will leave him, with such losses, he will have to withdraw/halt ops (Japanese players hate eating into their pilot pool)...do not attack, let him incur losses ... then ...
[*]When you are ready, hit his fields on a day you think they will not fly ... and his losses are climbing.

[sigh-afterthought]I am always complaining that my Bomber wing finds it difficult to close airfields, I think that a raid by 100+ aircraft should be able to close one, but it doesn't as the Japanese player.

Excellent ideas; thanks. I didn't think to move the AVG back, but since they have averaged one kill per day so far, it couldn't hurt.
My only decent bombers in the area are the LB-30's, which fly about once a week -- the Blenheims seem to be dropping the crates the bombs were shipped in rather than the bombs themselves, since they seem to be ineffective.

I agree about the sweeps. When Coach Z does them, I kid him by calling them "anti-sweeps", since he usually loses more fighters than I do.

[floydg]

July 28, 1942

Highlights: Blunder at Darwin

• South of Tokyo, the SS Silversides catches the AK Amako Maru and puts a torpedo into the transport.
• Japanese conduct a naval bombardment of Darwin with 2xBB and 2xDD. Almost 350 casualties are reported. Later, an aerial bombardment causes a little more damage.
• Almost 75 Japanese bombers hit the airbase at Ichang. Moderate damage is done to the base and the whole CAP of 4 fighters is destroyed.
• 28xB-24D hit Port Moresby. Five Japanese fighters are reported lost to two bombers.
• Almost 70 Japanese bombers hit Broome and trade 5 Japanese fighters for 6 Allied fighters destroyed in the air and on the ground. Moderate damage is added to the airbase.
• 55 bombers from Dutch Harbor bomb the Japanese 7th Division at Adak Island, causing minor casualties.
• West of Myitkyina, the Japanese troops are bombed from Kohima and Calcutta, racking up some casualties and softening up for the Allied ground bombardment. When the Japanese attack, the Allies hold.
• The transport TF's at Noumea is hit by Ann's from Koumac and Betty's from Luganville. Five AK's are hit multiple times and are on fire.
• The British BB's withdrawing between New Guinea and Australia were hit. Nell's put two torpedoes into the BB Royal Sovereign.
• Northwest of Ichang, the Chinese corps attempting to break the Japanese blockade of Ichang is attacked and retreats.
• Northeast of Sian, the Japanese make a massive attack with one Division on a Chinese Corps. The Chinese hold.
• Northwest of Nanning, the Chinese get a massive shipment of supplies and make an attack on the one Japanese infantry unit there. The Japanese are defeated and retreat southwest.
• Northeast of Lanchow, the Chinese attack a small Japanese advance unit trying to open a new front in the north. The Japanese retreat.
• The Allied defenders of Darwin are surprised when the Japanese advance on the city so quickly. A hurried attack is staged, but the Allies were ill-prepared and the attack was a failure. The Japanese take just over 300 casualties to over 1000 Allies.

Analysis: I really messed up at Darwin with that attack. Although in the first run of the turn, it was a lot worse (Coach Z had some issues running the turn, which he is still grousing about). My troops are all highly disrupted and I suspect that a deliberate attack or two will secure the city for him... [:(]
But at least I did make an advance in China. Now I see that Ichang is isolated and the supply level is dropping. I'll have to try to break the blockade, since some of his blockading troops are out of supply range for him.

[floydg]

July 29, 1942

Highlights: Action in Burma; Darwin faltering

• Near Suva, the SS I-19 locates an ASW TF and puts a torpedo into the APD Manley, causing her significant damage. The DD's and APD's counter-attack and get 9 near misses.
• 46xLily escorted by 41xOscar attack the airbase at Ichang. 9 P-40B's from the AVG intercept and shoot down 6 Oscar and 8 Lily, losing only 1 fighter. Light damage is done to the airbase.
• 67 bombers from Dutch Harbor bomb the Japanese troops at Adak Island, causing just over 100 casualties.
• British troops moved into the mid-point of the road between Mandalay and Myitkyina and faced off against an artillery regiment and 2/3 of a division. Over 100 Japanese bombers soften up the British and just under 40 Allied bombers on the Japanese. A small number of casualties are racked up from the bombing for both sides.
• Near Luganville, 9xA-20 break through a meager Japanese CAP and attack the CVL Shoho and later the CA Haguro. No hits are scored, but it was a boost to morale to be able to make a bomb run on a Japanese carrier.
• 34 Japanese bombers hit Efate and do minor damage.
• Two AK's unloading supply at Noumea each take a bomb hit from Betty's.
• The Japanese make a deliberate attack at Darwin, reducing the fortifications but took almost 1500 casualties to the just over 550 Allied defenders.
• Spies report the airfield at Toyama reaching level 3, the port at Seoul reaching level 2 and the port at Medan reaching level 3.

Analysis: My advance in Burma is coming to a head now, as I am starting to stage an offensive. I am moving on Myitkyina and Akyab. I suppose the real goal here is to keep his troops engaged so they're not used elsewhere.
The defense at Darwin still holds, but it's faltering.
I can't make the attack at Adak Island because the Marines have no supply. So I'm ferrying that in now. Also inching up the Wasp and Hornet, since I think he still has carriers in the area.