Nomonhan Redux: Seydlitz (Japan) vs. MBatch729 (Allies)

[seydlitz_slith]

Turn 231 July 25, 1942

In the Gilberts, round two of our tussle continues. The KB is back after replenishing at Truk. However, this time I am also operating two powerful surface action groups. The first group is based around the Yamato and several heavy cruisers. The Other is based around the four Kongo class battleships.
Gambling that any enemy aircraft would be attracted to the carriers as a priority target, I sent both surface groups barrelling in to Tabiteuea Island to sink ships and bombard the airfield that was packed with a couple hundred aircraft.

The Kongo group kicked things off by running into a squadron of American destroyers, sinking 3 of them. The remainder were finished off by the aircraft from the carriers later during the turn.

[seydlitz_slith]

As expected, the enemy attack the KB with medium bombers escorted by P-39s. No hits were scored on the carriers and I shot down 7 B-26, 1 P-39 while losing only 1 zero.

[seydlitz_slith]

During the afternoon phase, both the Yamato and the Kongo task forces bombarded the airfield at Tabiteuea Island from a range of 16,000 yards.
Together they inflicted over 700 casualties and detroyed over 100 aircraft (26 P-40E, 13 P-39D, 11 B-26, 5 B-17E, 9 SBD-3, 6 Catalinas, and 2 F-4 Lightnings).

The surface combat task forces will retire to Truk to rearm while the Carriers stay behind to hit the airfield again.

[seydlitz_slith]

Turn 232 July 26, 1942

As promised, the KB hung around and launched large strikes at Tabiteuea Field, hoping to destroy more aircraft before the SeaBees could repair the damage to the runways. The strike destroyed an additional 10 P-40E, 6 SBD-3, 7 B-26, 2 Catalinas, 2 P-39D, and 1 B-17E.

The airfield is now officially no longer over stacked with just 2 airworthy airframes.[:D]

Next turn I will swing north and work over Tarawa's air base, which shows just under 100 auxiliary aircraft.

[topeverest]

If scen 1, you start with about 7M resources and 3M oil and at least 3M fuel and several million supply

You have 13.4M R, 1.7M O, and 2.5M F. Assuming I have not made an agregious error in the starting numbers, you are fine with resources in aggregate, but you are dangerously bleeding oil and fuel. Simple math probably does not work to determine your lifeline, so I would get tracker open and do some calculations. As an aside, your total supply seems low, even if not dangerous. Perhaps due to the type of war you are fighting.

[seydlitz_slith]

ORIGINAL: topeverest

If scen 1, you start with about 7M resources and 3M oil and at least 3M fuel and several million supply

You have 13.4M R, 1.7M O, and 2.5M F. Assuming I have not made an agregious error in the starting numbers, you are fine with resources in aggregate, but you are dangerously bleeding oil and fuel. Simple math probably does not work to determine your lifeline, so I would get tracker open and do some calculations. As an aside, your total supply seems low, even if not dangerous. Perhaps due to the type of war you are fighting.

The land war definitely eats heavily into my supply. Fuel would be worse only without the long ranged ops in the Pacific, it has reduced my fuel needs so far. I do need to get Palembang so that I can bring that oil home.

[offenseman]

Nice bombardment results.  That has to sting a bit to lose that many aircraft in one turn.

[seydlitz_slith]

Even better was doing it without getting sunk or seriously damaged like in earlier patches. All of my battleships that were lost in this game were lost due to the routine that had the ships move to zero range and anchor. With the latest patch, I set 16000 yards as the minimum range to bombard and it worked great. My ships pounded away with their main guns and stayed out of range of the enemy's small stuff.

[seydlitz_slith]

Turn 234 July 28, 1942

Good news on the home front..... BB Musashi has arrived and is ready to join her sister at Truk.

[seydlitz_slith]

Also arriving this turn is the Carrier Hiyo. She will join her sister Junyo in the KB.

[seydlitz_slith]

The KB once again pounded Tarawa, destroying 13 P-40E, 2 A-20A, 4 B-26B, 4 B25C, and 2 B-17E. No japanese aircraft were lost.

Next turn I shall switch to naval attack primary with port and airfield secondary. That way I will be ready if the allied carriers show up. Otherwise I will continue to mop up around the two islands before sailing back to Truk.

[seydlitz_slith]

On the previous turn I had launched every bomber that could fly on night attacks against the airfield at Spassik-Dalniy since we had 100% moonlight. I destroyed several enemy aircraft on the ground despite a night fighter defense consisting of I-16 Ratas.

I tried to do the same this turn, but with three Oscar units flying midnight sweeps. Alas, nothing flew due to severe thrunderstorms over the area suring the night phase.

During the day, he continued to pound the 23rd Tank Regiment, which took Kotou earlier in the week. However, the Chi-Ha tanks were quite maneuverable despite the swampy terrain and only 2 tanks were lost despite being attacked by over 64 bombers.

[seydlitz_slith]

Turn 238 August 01, 1942

This game is just flat out interesting in many ways. We currently have action going on in four significantly different locations.

First off, near Tarakan, ABDAFLOT turned up to hack up a convoy that had completed offloading troops and supplies. As expected, the empty cargo ships were slaughtered like sheep.

It feels odd to be fighting ships that escaped from Luzon and also the Dutch Navy in August 1942.

[seydlitz_slith]

At the same time, I am preparing for the final battles at Singapore which I have seiged for the past 8 months. Victory is still not certain.

At Palembang, I have landed additional units by amphibious assault to reinforce the three para units that have been engaged there for the past three months. I should win here, but victory is still not certain.

At Bangkok, Mark has been flying airstrikes at my transport convoys attempting to land my troops at the port to reinforce the defense of the city.
For the past three days, his British carriers have flown airstrikes and British Blenheims escorted by Hurricanes have also struck the shipping.

There is one unit of experienced Oscar 1c fighters based there that have done yeoman's work in defending the convoys. In today's action they lost only one fighter, but shot down 9 Hurricanes, 4 Martlets, several Blenheims, swordfish, and albacores.

For next turn, I have flown in another Oscar unit as well as a Zero unit.

Subs are enroute at full speed to intercept the carriers if he stays in the same hex next turn.

[seydlitz_slith]

Also Amazing........

I have a Betty crew with 5 confirmed kills and they are still alive and flying missions. I was somewhat shocked when I found this on my pilot leaderboard.
I believe all the kills are Soviet fighters. [:D]

[seydlitz_slith]

Speaking of which, the Russian front is still hot and active. Battles are brewing in 4 locations here also.

[seydlitz_slith]

Meanwhile, I continue to pound the American air bases in the Gilbert Islands with the might of the Japanese Navy.

[LoBaron]

Seidlitz its really great to see you continue this game. It is one of the most interesting AAR´s I have seen, and I have seen quite a lot
over the years. The giant struggle russia is something this game was never really built for, and still it seems to work quite well. Impressive.

How many games can you handle anyway? I am fully engaged running away from you and offenseman the in DEI´s. No way I could do another,
even this one is at the limit of my time available! And even this is only possible with cunning Rob Brennan. [;)]

Good luck on this game, sorry that I am reluctant to wish you good luck on a certain other game... [:D]

[offenseman]

LB, I agree! This really is a most fascinating AAR.  One of a kind. I've been reading from the beginning and never miss an episode.

Don't worry about how long it takes to do turns in the other game. Each and every turn, we are trying our best to takes bases and kill troops, ships, and aircraft; all so that you have less to do!  [;)] 

[CaptBeefheart]

This belongs in the AAR Hall of Fame. Truly interesting. Thanks for the entertainment value.

Cheers,
CC