You are right, it is so stupid, PzB might not think one would do it. [:-]
Might I paint the negative picture for you?
Your TfS WILL HIT ENORMOUS MINEFIELDS; destroying masses of your precious landingcrafts. Bombers, torpedoeplanes and fighters from all India and Asia will get after you. They can use those level 7 airfields instantly. So you will have to fight, say 4000 fighters and 2000 bombers, all with 6 carriers. Your Hellcat pool will be empty very fast and kamikazes will damage several of your important battleships and carriers.
This whole thing looks like an enormous trap, if you ask me. PzB doesn´t beg for an invasion without having a plan. He could bring in all divisions from India and several divisions from China, all very fast along the rail lines. If you do not conquer Malaya in two weeks you will be stuck with 3/4 of the Japanese army stepping on your feet and 2/3 of the Japanese LBA above you.
If you win (I estimate your chances 1:9) you have defeated Japan´s Asia army, won Malaya and lost parts of your precious troops and ships. But, as a matter of fact Japnese Asia Army is useless because there is nothing in Asia to fight against. Do you think your 2 divisions would hold out against 30 Japanese divisions (most of them prepped for Singers?
Attack islands.There are lots of islands in the Phillippines and along the Chinese coast. These are waiting for you. Trying Malaya is not the most clever idea, imho.
I agree with Frank.
soeren01, formerly known as Soeren
CoG FoF
PacWar WIR BoB BTR UV WITP WITE WITW
I think you want Malaya for two reasons: the shipyard at Singapore and the large airfields.
However, how does taking Malaya and tying down of unknown amount of LCU's to prolong combat (PzB will send troops down from Ragoon to India) get you into range of your B-29's to bomb first China and then Japan itself??[&:]
You need to stop his flow of oil/resources from the SRA/India and then attack his training bases in China to get his air force cutted back experience wise.
When it comes to going through the Malacca Straights, I don't think there is that much of a threat of minefields as he would need to use it to get ships to and from India through it.
IMO, I prefer a Northern Borneo strategy, but you already know that. [:D]
Not to bothered about Indo china I just want Malaya.....
It opens up India to raids , strands what forces PZB has in India there for the duration, dominates the trade routes and oil sources (subs wont work to many ASW aircraft), possibly an advanced port and base all told its a good thing IF i can get it done.
Quiet one but my heavies raided Palembang in a diversionary raid.
Time for the main event I will post a screenshot in a few seconds
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 09/20/44
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kweiyang , at 41,35
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 306
J2M Jack x 101
D4Y Judy x 126
B6N Jill x 69
G4M1 Betty x 27
G4M2 Betty x 34
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 36
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 35
Ki-84-Ia Frank x 36
Aircraft Attacking:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kweiyang , at 41,35
Japanese aircraft
G4M2 Betty x 25
No Japanese losses
Runway hits 2
Aircraft Attacking:
20 x G4M2 Betty bombing at 15000 feet
5 x G4M2 Betty bombing at 15000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Singapore , at 23,50
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 63
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 48
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 12
Ki-84-Ia Frank x 53
Ki-102a Randy x 9
Aircraft Attacking:
14 x B-24J Liberator bombing at 10000 feet
13 x B-24J Liberator bombing at 10000 feet
16 x B-29 Superfortress bombing at 10000 feet
11 x B-24J Liberator bombing at 10000 feet
15 x B-24J Liberator bombing at 10000 feet
5 x B-29 Superfortress bombing at 10000 feet
6 x B-29 Superfortress bombing at 10000 feet
7 x B-24J Liberator bombing at 10000 feet
8 x B-24J Liberator bombing at 10000 feet
3 x B-24J Liberator bombing at 10000 feet
3 x B-24J Liberator bombing at 10000 feet
2 x B-29 Superfortress bombing at 10000 feet
3 x B-29 Superfortress bombing at 10000 feet
2 x B-24J Liberator bombing at 10000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Pinrang , at 31,67
Allied aircraft
F6F-5N Hellcat x 12
No Allied losses
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kendari , at 33,71
Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 3
Spitfire VIII x 5
Kittyhawk III x 3
P-38J Lightning x 3
P-47D Thunderbolt x 5
PB4Y Liberator x 6
B-24J Liberator x 21
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
48 casualties reported
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 36
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-24J Liberator bombing at 15000 feet
3 x PB4Y Liberator bombing at 15000 feet
3 x PB4Y Liberator bombing at 15000 feet
7 x B-24J Liberator bombing at 15000 feet
5 x B-24J Liberator bombing at 15000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Truk , at 63,78
Allied aircraft
F-5C Lightning x 3
PB4Y Liberator x 8
B-24J Liberator x 15
Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 3 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
5 casualties reported
Airbase hits 3
Runway hits 35
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-24J Liberator bombing at 15000 feet
3 x PB4Y Liberator bombing at 15000 feet
3 x PB4Y Liberator bombing at 15000 feet
6 x B-24J Liberator bombing at 15000 feet
3 x B-24J Liberator bombing at 15000 feet
2 x PB4Y Liberator bombing at 15000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Wewak , at 52,81
Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 29
F4U-1D Corsair x 15
F6F-5N Hellcat x 13
Hurricane II x 10
Kittyhawk III x 15
No Allied losses
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 5
Aircraft Attacking:
13 x F6F-5N Hellcat bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Hansa , at 53,83
Aircraft Attacking:
15 x B-25J Mitchell bombing at 8000 feet
20 x B-25J Mitchell bombing at 8000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 22nd Engineer Regiment, at 45,76
Allied aircraft
F4U-1D Corsair x 21
Boomerang II x 9
Beaufort V-IX x 7
P-40N Warhawk x 50
A-20G Havoc x 9
B-25J Mitchell x 39
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
21 casualties reported
Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 15000 feet
6 x F4U-1D Corsair bombing at 2000 feet
10 x P-40N Warhawk bombing at 2000 feet
18 x B-25J Mitchell bombing at 15000 feet
6 x A-20G Havoc bombing at 15000 feet
34 x P-40N Warhawk bombing at 2000 feet
12 x F4U-1D Corsair bombing at 2000 feet
3 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 15000 feet
3 x P-40N Warhawk bombing at 2000 feet
9 x B-25J Mitchell bombing at 15000 feet
12 x B-25J Mitchell bombing at 15000 feet
3 x A-20G Havoc bombing at 15000 feet
3 x P-40N Warhawk bombing at 2000 feet
3 x F4U-1D Corsair bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 22nd Engineer Regiment, at 45,76
Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 4
Kittyhawk III x 6
Beaufighter Mk 21 x 20
P-38J Lightning x 6
F-5C Lightning x 1
A-20G Havoc x 8
B-25J Mitchell x 6
PB4Y Liberator x 8
B-24J Liberator x 36
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-25J Mitchell bombing at 10000 feet
3 x Beaufighter Mk 21 bombing at 2000 feet
6 x Kittyhawk III bombing at 2000 feet
3 x Beaufighter Mk 21 bombing at 2000 feet
3 x Beaufighter Mk 21 bombing at 2000 feet
6 x Beaufighter Mk 21 bombing at 2000 feet
5 x Beaufighter Mk 21 bombing at 2000 feet
18 x B-24J Liberator bombing at 10000 feet
8 x A-20G Havoc bombing at 10000 feet
18 x B-24J Liberator bombing at 10000 feet
4 x PB4Y Liberator bombing at 10000 feet
4 x PB4Y Liberator bombing at 10000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 55th Division, at 81,84
Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 3
F4U-1D Corsair x 22
P-40N Warhawk x 29
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
11 x P-40N Warhawk bombing at 2000 feet
18 x P-40N Warhawk bombing at 2000 feet
11 x F4U-1D Corsair bombing at 2000 feet
11 x F4U-1D Corsair bombing at 2000 feet
3 x F6F Hellcat bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 32nd Ind.Mixed Brigade, at 45,76
Allied aircraft
F4U-1D Corsair x 6
Boomerang II x 3
Beaufort V-IX x 3
P-40N Warhawk x 15
A-20G Havoc x 3
B-25J Mitchell x 22
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
38 casualties reported
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-25J Mitchell bombing at 15000 feet
3 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 15000 feet
3 x F4U-1D Corsair bombing at 2000 feet
3 x P-40N Warhawk bombing at 2000 feet
13 x B-25J Mitchell bombing at 15000 feet
3 x A-20G Havoc bombing at 15000 feet
12 x P-40N Warhawk bombing at 2000 feet
3 x F4U-1D Corsair bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 32nd Ind.Mixed Brigade, at 45,76
Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 3
Kittyhawk III x 3
Beaufighter Mk 21 x 12
P-38J Lightning x 3
F-5C Lightning x 1
A-20G Havoc x 3
B-25J Mitchell x 3
PB4Y Liberator x 6
B-24J Liberator x 26
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
110 casualties reported
Aircraft Attacking:
11 x B-24J Liberator bombing at 10000 feet
3 x B-25J Mitchell bombing at 10000 feet
2 x Beaufighter Mk 21 bombing at 2000 feet
3 x Kittyhawk III bombing at 2000 feet
2 x Beaufighter Mk 21 bombing at 2000 feet
2 x Beaufighter Mk 21 bombing at 2000 feet
3 x Beaufighter Mk 21 bombing at 2000 feet
3 x Beaufighter Mk 21 bombing at 2000 feet
3 x A-20G Havoc bombing at 10000 feet
15 x B-24J Liberator bombing at 10000 feet
3 x PB4Y Liberator bombing at 10000 feet
3 x PB4Y Liberator bombing at 10000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 84th Chinese Corps, at 43,35
Japanese aircraft
B7A Grace x 48
No Japanese losses
Allied ground losses:
12 casualties reported
Aircraft Attacking:
24 x B7A Grace bombing at 10000 feet
24 x B7A Grace bombing at 8000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Palembang , at 20,55
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 44
N1K1-J George x 12
J2M Jack x 15
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 6
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 7
Ki-84-Ia Frank x 18
Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 37
F4U-1D Corsair x 29
The big difference (I hope) this time over my last two para assaults is that I have FT troops ready to land in support on the same night as the paras go in and the 1st wave with two full combat divs are ready to follow up straight away.
But if I dont manage to close Singapore then I am ready to pull out before I commit if I have to.
2 Carrier TF's are going to hit Singapore hard !!!!
Last point for tonight there seems to be no dispersal of Japanese airpower in Malaya.
Its weird Singapore is stacked and a very tempting target hence my taking the bombardment risk with the Iowa TF.
If my TF's take out Singapore then my landings will be a doddle !!!
I would land in Johore or Mersing. If you take one of them, then the second and third wave troops can unload on a friendly port, instead of taking the disruption. Plus you have CAP, and can interdict the Air Transport into Singapore
Going to the strongest point of the defense in Malaya doesnt seem wise to me
Sorry If I wasnt clear I am landing at Malacca as it appears unguarded
Paratrooper size the port tonight and in 72 Hours I land 50,000 men over the port.
I was not willing to risk the Malacca straight with Singapore Operational so I am taking some risks to neutralise the AF I am not intending to actually land at Singapore.
If I can get 500 Tanks operational in Malaya I should be able to sieze the Songkia choke point and dig in to secure the whole peninsula
Andy
I hope there will be no need if I secure Malacca Aerodrome I can have 100 Fighter Bombers operating in 24 hours its a 2(2) AF so I have 6 Bns of Seabees plus baseforces coming in plus the northern half of Malaya looks denuded of troops.
Overall 1. if my Para landing works tonight securing a port and AF on Malaya on day 1 of the campaign and 2. Singapore is neutralised by the combination of Bombardment, Carrier Air and Superforts from Banja) the Malaya campagn becomes an acceptable risk if either action is not successful I need to reconsider and balance the risk.
The Malacca straight is a death trap if Singapore is operational
My carriers neutralised the Jap surface fleet in the area 2 days ago damaging three CA's so the real threat is LBA and PZB appears to have over concentrated his LBA at Singapore.......
Only time will tell
The more I think on it the more ahead of myself I get !!!
IF I take Malacca then my main force lands there clearly this is the correct answer it avoids disruption and secures a solid base to operate from.
Should I attempt to go deeper to try and cut the Japanese in Malaya into penny packets.
I could land forces at Taiping, Mersing, Johore and probably Alor Star on day 3 from follow on forces the disruption and casualties would be nasty BUT it would shatter defences.
Or perhaps I should just stop biting my nails and wait for PZB to send the turn back before I let my imagination run away with me again !!!!
Andy
Do you intend to take Singapore after landing at Malacca? If you do, you'll need to give them plenty of rest before assaulting Singapore because you will have to assault across the river. That means automatic shock attacks.
Chez
Ret Navy AWCS (1972-1998)
VP-5, Jacksonville, Fl 1973-78
ASW Ops Center, Rota, Spain 1978-81
VP-40, Mt View, Ca 1981-87
Patrol Wing 10, Mt View, CA 1987-90
ASW Ops Center, Adak, Ak 1990-92
NRD Seattle 1992-96
VP-46, Whidbey Isl, Wa 1996-98
To be honest I am not sure.
Alor Star/Khota Baru/Kuantan will give me the AF's I need to both threaten Burma/India and cut off Palembang as well as allowing me bring into play some of the thousands of aircraft I just cannot forward deploy at present.
With those AF's under my control Liberators and Superforts will range desolation accross the whole of SEA.
Singapore itself is nice to have rather than essential
I can then consider a drive on Formosa via North Borneo.
10th Army is still prepping for the Marianas so I will have two routes for an early 45 offensive to get Superforts in range of HI.
If PZB runs to Singapore and forts up with enough troops I may just leave him to rot there.
Singapore itself is a nice to have but not essential.
I am committing 136,000 troops and 600 tanks PZB has 45 - 50k in Singapore and does not appear to have large numbers elsewhere in Malaya.
I suspect my deployment will be dictated by what PZB brings down from Thailand and Burma.
I have about another 7 Divisons of the ABDA Corps and a US Corps still at Darwin but I dont particularily want to commit them to Malaya.
They are being saved for a cunning little operation I have planned.....
Need is such a strong word.....
I agree it would be nice and usefull not to mention the lvl 9 AF and port and a shipyard but it isnt crucial to my plans.
It will really depend on whether or not PZB reinforces Singapore.
I can allow c 2 months for this campaign but probably not much more.
I will need my shipping elsewhere in the not to distant future.
But I must not get ahead of myself I dont even know yet if my Paratroopers captured Malacca or if my AF and carrriers got wiped out by Singapore CAP/Retaliation
Andy
I found out that a malaria free base isn´t as essential in the game as it would be in real life. I have troops sitting in malaria bases for over a year with enough support and they do just fine. First they get some disablements but stay at 95% of combat strength. So a non malaria base isn´t that important I think.
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