Beans, Bullets and Black Oil :: obvert (A) vs Lowpe (J)

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]June 24, 1942[/font]

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The RN also put a pounded bombardment down at Johore Baru. Every once in a while the damage is devastating. I'm still not sure if the differences are die rolls or if weather, moonlight, recon or other factors are playing a part. Hard to know as I haven't changed the settings on anything in a good while.

At Taiping the Allies face a setback as the 21st division arrives just in time to thwart the DA. Damage is not too bad, and I'll just let all but one tank rgt hold on here. It's actually probably better for the Allies in the long run for him to defend forward here, as I plan to land behind in the not too distant future.
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR June 24, 1942
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Night Naval bombardment of Johore Bahru at 50,83

Allied Ships
CA Devonshire
CA Louisville
CL Enterprise
CL Hobart
CL Perth
CL Achilles
DD Hotspur
DD Express
DD Thracian
DD Stronghold
DD Kortenaer

Japanese ground losses:
274 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 29 destroyed, 27 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 30 (17 destroyed, 13 disabled)
Vehicles lost 17 (13 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Resources hits 2
Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 67
Port hits 12
Port fuel hits 2
Port supply hits 1

CA Devonshire firing at Johore Bahru
SOC-1 Seagull acting as spotter for CA Louisville
CA Louisville firing at Johore Bahru
Walrus II acting as spotter for CL Enterprise
CL Enterprise firing at 2nd/A Division

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ASW attack near Pescadores at 82,63

Japanese Ships
BB Hiei, Torpedo hits 1
AMC Nosiro Maru
AK Azumasan Maru
AK Kaga Maru
xAP Kowa Maru
xAP Kasado Maru
xAP Koan Maru
xAK Yamaura Maru
xAK Atutasan Maru
SC Ch 6

Allied Ships
SS Shark

SS Shark launches 4 torpedoes at BB Hiei
SC Ch 6 fails to find sub, continues to search...

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Afternoon Air attack on Naga , at 81,81

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 8

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
TK Hakko Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
TK Syoyo Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
TB Sagi, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
TK Teiyo Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
E Hashidate, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Chuko Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Kongo Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage

Port hits 3
Port fuel hits 2
Port supply hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 5000 feet
Port Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

Massive explosion on TB Sagi

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Ground combat at Taiping (49,75)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 14305 troops, 282 guns, 422 vehicles, Assault Value = 529

Defending force 18087 troops, 165 guns, 121 vehicles, Assault Value = 511

Allied adjusted assault: 414

Japanese adjusted defense: 873

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 1)

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

Japanese ground losses:
469 casualties reported
Squads: 9 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 7 (4 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Vehicles lost 35 (2 destroyed, 33 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
916 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 29 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 80 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 17 (2 destroyed, 15 disabled)
Vehicles lost 83 (11 destroyed, 72 disabled)

Assaulting units:
2/7th Armoured Regiment
754th Tank Battalion
17th Australian Brigade
2/5th Armoured Regiment
18th Australian Brigade
6th Cav Recce Regiment
2/2nd Pioneer Battalion
Kowloon Brigade
2/9th Fld RAA Regiment
2/11th Fld RAA Regiment
97th Field Artillery Battalion
2/13th Fld RAA Regiment
2/2nd Hy AA Regiment
IV Indian Corps /1

Defending units:
14th Tank Regiment
Sasebo 5th SNLF
21st Division
6th RTA/A Division
9th Field Construction Battalion
5th RF Gun Battalion
12th Base Force
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[BBfanboy]

obvert: I'm curious if I retake the Russian Islands, will they be able to be used by all Allied forces? Can I build them and bomb from there?

If only Russian forces are used and the base is Soviet, it might not support allied ops (other than ship repair) but if US or British forces are in the invasion their first-unit-in-the-stack HQ would get admin. control of the base and that should mean that it operates as an allied base (unless the code says the national affiliation of the base determines this).

[ny59giants]

Considering you are only in June '42, I wonder in the actual war, how many 6" and large shells did the Allies have? You have done a lot of naval bombardments. Would they have come down and told you they are producing more but it will take 'x' months to get them to Singapore?

Which warships now have the best experience levels?

[Capt. Harlock]

Ground combat at Taiping (49,75)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 14305 troops, 282 guns, 422 vehicles, Assault Value = 529

Defending force 18087 troops, 165 guns, 121 vehicles, Assault Value = 511

Allied adjusted assault: 414

Japanese adjusted defense: 873

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 1)

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

Japanese ground losses:
469 casualties reported
Squads: 9 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 7 (4 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Vehicles lost 35 (2 destroyed, 33 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
916 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 29 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 80 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 17 (2 destroyed, 15 disabled)
Vehicles lost 83 (11 destroyed, 72 disabled)

Assaulting units:
2/7th Armoured Regiment
754th Tank Battalion
17th Australian Brigade
2/5th Armoured Regiment
18th Australian Brigade
6th Cav Recce Regiment
2/2nd Pioneer Battalion
Kowloon Brigade
2/9th Fld RAA Regiment
2/11th Fld RAA Regiment
97th Field Artillery Battalion
2/13th Fld RAA Regiment
2/2nd Hy AA Regiment
IV Indian Corps /1

Defending units:
14th Tank Regiment
Sasebo 5th SNLF
21st Division
6th RTA/A Division
9th Field Construction Battalion
5th RF Gun Battalion
12th Base Force

You're gonna need a bigger stick . . .

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

obvert: I'm curious if I retake the Russian Islands, will they be able to be used by all Allied forces? Can I build them and bomb from there?

If only Russian forces are used and the base is Soviet, it might not support allied ops (other than ship repair) but if US or British forces are in the invasion their first-unit-in-the-stack HQ would get admin. control of the base and that should mean that it operates as an allied base (unless the code says the national affiliation of the base determines this).

It depends on the country code, not the base assignment.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

obvert: I'm curious if I retake the Russian Islands, will they be able to be used by all Allied forces? Can I build them and bomb from there?

If only Russian forces are used and the base is Soviet, it might not support allied ops (other than ship repair) but if US or British forces are in the invasion their first-unit-in-the-stack HQ would get admin. control of the base and that should mean that it operates as an allied base (unless the code says the national affiliation of the base determines this).

It depends on the country code, not the base assignment.

So I've sent some Allied US Army "observers" and "consultants" to the Soviet east, and they are able to be in a Soviet (country coded base) like at Okha. I landed and flew them there.

Not sure if the engineers are working? Or if they will take part in battles? Or if the base flag is changed will I be able to use Allied planes there? I am not planning on that for Okha, but this makes sense to me at the island bases extended from the Aleutians.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

Ground combat at Taiping (49,75)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 14305 troops, 282 guns, 422 vehicles, Assault Value = 529

Defending force 18087 troops, 165 guns, 121 vehicles, Assault Value = 511

Allied adjusted assault: 414

Japanese adjusted defense: 873

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 1)

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

Japanese ground losses:
469 casualties reported
Squads: 9 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 7 (4 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Vehicles lost 35 (2 destroyed, 33 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
916 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 29 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 80 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 17 (2 destroyed, 15 disabled)
Vehicles lost 83 (11 destroyed, 72 disabled)

Assaulting units:
2/7th Armoured Regiment
754th Tank Battalion
17th Australian Brigade
2/5th Armoured Regiment
18th Australian Brigade
6th Cav Recce Regiment
2/2nd Pioneer Battalion
Kowloon Brigade
2/9th Fld RAA Regiment
2/11th Fld RAA Regiment
97th Field Artillery Battalion
2/13th Fld RAA Regiment
2/2nd Hy AA Regiment
IV Indian Corps /1

Defending units:
14th Tank Regiment
Sasebo 5th SNLF
21st Division
6th RTA/A Division
9th Field Construction Battalion
5th RF Gun Battalion
12th Base Force

You're gonna need a bigger stick . . .

I have that big stick ready!

I'm just getting it set to land in another spot and trying to find enough fast unloading transports to actual make it work.

[obvert]

The night of the 25th starts with some ominous patrol sightings off the coast of Malaya. I had been hiding and carefully manoeuvring the Allied CVs for a strike, keeping them in the background near Palembang, where the Japanese have stopped air patrols. The bombing of Singkawang field has proved a major Allied success as it allowed for huge reinforcement convoys to sail undetected to Batu Palat, and these CV Bfs to hover, sometimes within 11-12 hexes of Miri and the KB for days.

I just moved them up for a possible strike on the large CA led TF operating near Mersing. It was not picked up at night though, and instead something else appeared near Kuantan ...

[obvert]

The day started with my LR CAP covering Brunei port strikes taking a detour to hit Sallys next door. That was good, but ...

[obvert]

That also meant the B-17s had no support and I suffered my worst losses of the war in a 4E strike. Ten total lost on the day. In the end I didn't care so much though, and there are 60 in the pools right now, so still doing okay with those.

[obvert]

Then the big surprise!! A KB strike! I knew they'd moved in, but didn't know if they would be in range or set to strike so close to Singers. My CVs were 1 hex from the big base, sitting between the CAP at Batu Palat, set with a 1 hex bleed to cover am-hubs moving in, and the 400+ fighters at Singers. All Singers fighters were set to a 2 hex bleed to cover Batu Palat, the ASW TF I had out, and potentially the CVs if needed.

As you can see here, it was lucky to be so close to the supporting LBA CAP. They arrived in numbers before the slow climbing Wildcats, just because the CAP had a lot of layers and the top began diving right away.

Allied radar! [&o]

[obvert]

Soon, though, overwhelming numbers arrived and began tearing through the escorting A6Ms.

The USAAF groups are all very experienced, and with the qualitative advantage the KB usually has in pilots no longer there, the escorts didn't fare well at all. I hope this decimated the experienced pilots base of the KB for a while.

[obvert]

It wasn't long before they got some revenge for PH. Days of nailing the BBs there has left a sore spot for the Allied flyboy, and they got to hit those same bombers here long before they got any runs at the CVs below.

[obvert]

By the time they go through more than half of the strike planes and half of the escorts were shot down, and the groups were scattered and disorganised. Allied flank then began to pound away with the recently returned POW pounding away the loudest.

[obvert]

These are expertJapanese air crews though, and some did score. A 250kg bomb first tore into Hornet, then a torpedo hit Sara. Hornet took three bombs total and was left with a dangerous fire burning. Prince of Wales was hit by a bouncing bomb and one fish. Yorktown though escaped completely untouched, since the one hit bounced, as did all of the RN CVs.

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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR June 26, 1942
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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Singapore at 49,83

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 30 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 35
B5N1 Kate x 27
B5N2 Kate x 59
D3A1 Val x 66

Allied aircraft
Sea Hurricane Ib x 15
Martlet II x 40
Hurricane IIb Trop x 32
Kittyhawk IA x 21
P-39D Airacobra x 28
P-400 Airacobra x 5
P-40B Warhawk x 14
P-40E Warhawk x 36
F2A-3 Buffalo x 19
F4F-3A Wildcat x 18
F4F-3 Wildcat x 28
F4F-4 Wildcat x 81

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed
B5N1 Kate: 8 destroyed, 1 damaged
B5N1 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak
B5N2 Kate: 18 destroyed, 9 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak
D3A1 Val: 18 destroyed, 11 damaged
D3A1 Val: 4 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk IA: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CV Illustrious
CV Hornet, Bomb hits 3, on fire
BB Prince of Wales, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1
CV Saratoga, Torpedo hits 1
CV Yorktown, Bomb hits 1
CLAA Van Heemskerck

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
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The Allied planes had already launched, and they got their strike next.

[obvert]

Originally I'd hit the KB CAP at Miri, and I thought watching this that they must have still been set for 10k. As I later looked at the reports they were all at 15k, exactly on a level with the entire Allied strike package. I'm amazed the Allied strikes got through as well as they did.

The escorts did lose a fair number of planes, but they protected 2/3 of the strike package, which managed to spread around their strikes evenly around the KB. Normally I wouldn't like this, but a damaged KB is not effective, and most of these ships will need some yard time now! [&o

Unfortunately, due to a sync bug, I wasn't able to see the correct replay and watch the damage reports. [:@]

I can still predict a bit from the final CR, but it's hard to know what the 2 x 1000lb bombs on Soryu did compared to the 2 x 1000lb bombs that started heavy fires on Hiryu. Hard to tell what the singles on Kaga and Akagi did as well. I'll have to wait and see for the next few turns I guess.

The only CV that looks to be in trouble is Junyo. Not the most durable one to start with, having heavy fires, heavy damage should mean she's done for.
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR June 22, 1942
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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kota Bharu at 52,77

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 89

Allied aircraft
F2A-3 Buffalo x 10
F4F-3 Wildcat x 26
SBD-3 Dauntless x 102
TBF-1 Avenger x 28

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F2A-3 Buffalo: 1 destroyed
F4F-3 Wildcat: 2 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 15 destroyed, 15 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 4 destroyed, 3 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
CV Soryu, Bomb hits 2
CVE Taiyo, Bomb hits 1
CVL Zuiho, Bomb hits 3, on fire
CVE Hosho, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CV Hiryu, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
CV Junyo, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Shiranui
CV Akagi, Bomb hits 1
CV Kaga, Bomb hits 1
CV Shokaku, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CVL Shoho, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
DD Yugumo
DD Oyashio
DD Arashi

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

Ammo storage explosion on CVE Hosho
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVL Shoho
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Hiryu

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[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]June 26, 1942[/font]

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Below is the situation after the CV clash. I feel like enough damage was dished out that the KB will retire, but just in case I'll send the still burning Hornet and damaged Sara with all other ships into Singers to sit under the big CAP and disband.

After a turn spent with full search and recon going around the area I'll asses whether I should pursue or call it a day.

On the day the KB strike planes were decimated so I don't thin a day 2 is really possible for him, but due to the fires it's not for the Allies either. Subs will aim to finish things off, and as shown here, there are plenty to use. [;)]

I'll only send about 15 hunting, while the rest will gather on escape paths to try and stay out of the way of ASW search and destroy.

With about 140 strike planes downed on the day in addition to the damaged CVs, this should neuter the KB for a good month or two. I plan to make use of that window. [:)]

[scondon87]

That's exciting!

I think you came out better on the exchange, especially as his closest safe shipyard is Japan. It's a long way back to the HI with burning carriers. Seems like a draw, but in 1942, tactical draws are victories for the Allies.

Singapore probably isn't safe enough to use for carrier repair, what's the next closest? Colombo?

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: scondon87

That's exciting!

I think you came out better on the exchange, especially as his closest safe shipyard is Japan. It's a long way back to the HI with burning carriers. Seems like a draw, but in 1942, tactical draws are victories for the Allies.

Singapore probably isn't safe enough to use for carrier repair, what's the next closest? Colombo?

It feels like hitting so many carriers will make the entire KB have to retreat to patch things up. I don't think he wants to risk another fight not knowing how damaged the Allied CVs are currently. Plus, Junyo is almost surely in sinking shape, and a couple others like Shoho, will be in real trouble. The worst I have to deal with is Sara with about 20 float damage, and still she can make 25 knots, so I could use her in a pinch.

Actually, Singapore is probably the safest spot on map, although Cape Town would be the safest close port off map.

There is a lot of AA here and a huge CAP. Since the KB is not going to be striking, I doubt the Sallys and Netties on map would have much luck with a port strike here. The Flak value is approaching 100, and most of it is good commonwealth 3.7" AA guns and Marine 90mm AA, which are great.

[ny59giants]

I would put up some night CAP to ruin his aim over Singapore.