RIDERS ON THE STORM-THANK YOU

[heenanc]

What's the west coast like? He may make a move there!!

You don't want to be the first to lose it

[Gen.Hoepner]

Oh Gosh! West Coast?? Seems really too much...even for the dreaded Trollelite[:D]...however what could have been moved from there it has been moved!...but i really think it's too much to handle, even for him...considering that Karachi still needs his attention(in India there should be at least 4000 jap AVs by now), Manila still holds and the central pacific is safely in American hands...
Oz would be his best choice for the future operations...North-Eastern coast of Oz to be precise

[Gen.Hoepner]

However...i made a quick check...SF has 670 AVs, Seattle barely 300...United states 150...[:(]..didn't realize there were so few soldiers in the US!!!...what to do? Well...i'll risk it...cannot slow down another time the development of the pacific fronts...The Yankees will have to hold their own ground alone with the troops attached to the West Coast HQ

[Rob Brennan UK]

HEHE General i'd not worry about the USA at all , IF he lands u get the next 6 months troops free and iirc some NG units too, would help ur war effort enormously if he did [;)]

[Gen.Hoepner]

ORIGINAL: Rob Brennan UK

HEHE General i'd not worry about the USA at all , IF he lands u get the next 6 months troops free and iirc some NG units too, would help ur war effort enormously if he did [;)]

I think the same!

But guys, the Trollelite's plan is imho quite clear: create a continental empire (China+India and maybe Russia) and then stick on the defence of the pacific...which is going to be the worst scenario ever for me...

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/25/42

The KB is on the move again guys...!!!

It took the western route and it suddenly appeared west of Jaluit!! Luckly my conrados spotted it...i have some ships in the area..but nothing that important...couple of DDs, some 20 AKs and some MSWs...however all my bases (except Jaluit) have some fighters and a lot of Flak...so there's nothing that special for the KB in the area...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 85,83

Japanese Ships
SS I-32, hits 4

Allied Ships
APD Stringham
APD McKean
APD Manley
APD Little
APD Gregory
APD Colhoun

Finally one of those bastards lurking around the Marshalls have been caught![8D]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Karachi , at 21,3

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 20
Ki-21-II Sally x 91
Ki-49 Helen x 126

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-II Sally: 6 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 10 damaged


Allied ground losses:
528 casualties reported
Guns lost 13
Vehicles lost 1

Airbase hits 25
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 107

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kwajalein , at 81,84


Allied aircraft
OS2U-3 Kingfisher x 1
B-25C Mitchell x 22
B-26B Marauder x 47


Allied aircraft losses
B-26B Marauder: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
43 casualties reported

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 53

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Manila

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1482 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1062

Defending force 139801 troops, 1334 guns, 431 vehicles, Assault Value = 2725

Japanese max assault: 6 - adjusted assault: 0

Allied max defense: 2957 - adjusted defense: 25217

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 9)


Japanese ground losses:
78 casualties reported


My defences still look ok here....

[Bogo Mil]

I don't know it it's really a great idea, but maybe you should try to get rid of these bases in the cauldron as soon as possible. In other words: move all units out and hope that the Japs will capture the citys fast.
Then your troops will not be pushed back deeper into the cauldron any more. They might be stuck without any supply path, but that's not such a bad thing. It takes a lot of time and losses to reduce troops which are cut of. If they are in a base, they surrender, but in open terrain he needs huge odds. Even 200:1 is often not enough to force a surrender. If you are lucky, you might even get a thin supply path to Chungking, and then your troops are pushed back to that direction.

[Gen.Hoepner]

ORIGINAL: Bogo Mil

I don't know it it's really a great idea, but maybe you should try to get rid of these bases in the cauldron as soon as possible. In other words: move all units out and hope that the Japs will capture the citys fast.
Then your troops will not be pushed back deeper into the cauldron any more. They might be stuck without any supply path, but that's not such a bad thing. It takes a lot of time and losses to reduce troops which are cut of. If they are in a base, they surrender, but in open terrain he needs huge odds. Even 200:1 is often not enough to force a surrender. If you are lucky, you might even get a thin supply path to Chungking, and then your troops are pushed back to that direction.

Impossible Bogo..there are static units there so even if i move all the other forces out, the path to Hengchow and Kwelling will be always open and so pushed back...



AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/26/42

The KB moves few hexes North-East towards Kwalajein...without any attempt of attacking my ship lanes...his subs are really active...this could be a move to foce me to move my ships towards his sub routes...but it seems too much effort for this kind of strategic goal...
However the KB is without the usual replenishment TF...so it's only a raid...strange,again.[&:]
The ASW assets paid again today...we sank an oceaninc jap sub between Wake and Eniwetok..[8D]
My 2 survived CVs arrived at PH. Few days of R&R and then they'll be on the move again!

Karachi is hit again..heavily...anyway 253,000 supplies are still left...so we don't worry too much.

In China we're slowly moving back towards Kweijang, while he's advancing fast with 33 units from Liuchow!!!...timing now will be important...let's see what we can do.





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kwajalein , at 81,84 *from Eniwetok*


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 43


Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 4 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
26 casualties reported

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 26

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Karachi , at 21,3

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 22
Ki-21-II Sally x 90
Ki-49 Helen x 126

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 2 damaged
Ki-21-II Sally: 6 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 1 destroyed, 20 damaged


Allied ground losses:
274 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Airbase hits 18
Airbase supply hits 10
Runway hits 131

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 90,78

Japanese Ships
SS I-29, hits 10, on fire, heavy damage *sinks*[8D]

Allied Ships
APD Stringham
APD McKean
APD Little
APD Gregory
APD Colhoun


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Liuchow

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 90996 troops, 380 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1727

Defending force 25648 troops, 24 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 680

Japanese max assault: 1492 - adjusted assault: 731

Allied max defense: 626 - adjusted defense: 27

Japanese assault odds: 27 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
3419 casualties reported
Guns lost 51

Allied ground losses:
1068 casualties reported
Guns lost 2


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

We're pushed back again towards Kwelling...at least we're gaining some time
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Gen.Hoepner]

..

[witpqs]

I think he is trying to kill your air forces by inviting air attack against KB. Of course he is also in range of Ponape and available for other targets of opportunity that need to be 'serviced'.

[Bogo Mil]

This sounds reasonable. My guess is he tries to evacuate Kwajalein. But I would set an additional bomber group on Bikini and Jaluit to 100% naval search, just to be sure there is no invasion task force.

Btw: Nice to see all these green dots in the left corner [:)]. Once you can build one of these, Rabaul is toast...

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/27/42


Sounds resonable witpqs. Seems that he's moving close to my air bases, but not close enough to risk to engage with my fighter force.
It doesn't seem that there's any other TF coming close to Kwalajein. I've HUGE amount of search planes in the whole area and all his other TFs are based at Truk..so i guess they're not coming to Kwalajein...but it's only a guess.
The ASW goes with alternate fortunes. His 15 (at least) subs around the Marshalls are really driving me mad...one of my ML was torpedoes while fleeing from Maloleap, while we severly damaged on of those nasty wolfes..the same I-23 who attacked the ML (which should however survive).
The KB now is 3 hexes west of Kwalajein...in a strange position...without the replenishment TF...mmm...surely a bait for my air force...now could be the time for a bold move...or not? better to play on the defensive and leave him the initative again...mmmm....

In China 2000 of my AVs managed to reach Kweyjan (sp!?!?)...hope to get them safe at Chungking...would be a great achievement considering the terrible situation in which i am.

At Karachi 4 of his BBs came and scored a big hit...10,000 casualities...[:o].....then he shock attacked with a costr.Bn. Unit....
[:o]


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 89,77

our precious APDs evade the torps....

Japanese Ships
SS I-173

Allied Ships
APD Stringham
APD Little
APD Colhoun

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 90,84

Japanese Ships
SS I-23

Allied Ships
ML Bungaree, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Bloody bastard!![:@]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Karachi at 21,3

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo
BB Mutsu
BB Hyuga
BB Yamashiro
DD Shiratsuyu
DD Shigure
DD Yamakaze
DD Kawakaze
DD Umikaze
DD Suzukaze
DD Yugure

Allied Ships
AK Kinta, Shell hits 10, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

This lonely AK didn't arrive at Karachi with its load of supplies...[:o]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Karachi, at 21,3

Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro
BB Hyuga
BB Mutsu
BB Kongo


Allied ground losses:
10055 casualties reported[X(][X(][X(]
Guns lost 88

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 12
Port hits 4
Port fuel hits 2
Port supply hits 7

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Karachi , at 21,3

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 17
Ki-21-II Sally x 69
Ki-49 Helen x 112

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-II Sally: 2 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 1 damaged


Allied ground losses:
11 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 12
Airbase supply hits 9
Runway hits 96



Another terrible hit over my Indian Capital...[:o][:@]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 90,84

Japanese Ships
SS I-23, hits 4, on fire

Allied Ships
AVD Avocet
AVD McFarland
PC PC-486
PG Warrego

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 90,84

Japanese Ships
SS I-23, hits 2, heavy damage

Allied Ships
AVD Avocet
AVD McFarland
PC PC-486
PG Warrego

And then the I.23 paid the price of its impudence!![8D]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Karachi

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 10952 troops, 204 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2743

Defending force 134383 troops, 1174 guns, 761 vehicles, Assault Value = 2831

Japanese max assault: 6 - adjusted assault: 0 [8|]

Allied max defense: 2734 - adjusted defense: 33097 [:D]

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 7)


Japanese ground losses:
210 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Allied ground losses:
220 casualties reported[X(][X(][X(] What!?!??!!??!?! a couple of stupid engeneers killed 220 of my men!?!?!??! WTF!![:@]
Guns lost 7
Vehicles lost 1

[Mistmatz]

How are your plane pools and the updates doing? This should help answering the question if you want to take on the KB bait or not. At least we can be pretty certain that there will be plenty of fighters on the CVs. [;)]

[AcePylut]

What about sending one broken squadron to attack/sweep the KB, and see what he's got in the air covering it. Is it 50000 Zero's or not?

If you've got a squadron with just one plane, use that.

[Andy Mac]

By attacking with a unit even a small cnstruction one ALL of the Arty in his army fires without him having to bombard attack.
 
Thus the disruption and fatigue of his army stays low.
 
But I suspect that one was a recon attack if he repeats every day with a different unit then its weird. 
 
p.s. it raises the supply consumption level of all your units.
 
What is your monthly supply requirement at Karachi ?

[Gen.Hoepner]

Hi guys,
Got the turn..but at work i can only read the AAR Txt....so here it is.

My P-40 pool is completely empty (for both models)...i have some P-39 and P-400s but they are really worthless. For what concerns bombers i have 0 B-17s, but quite a lot B-25s and B-26s, so i'm not really worried. The problem is that the P-40s at the moment are the only army fighters i have and i've already lost A LOT of them...so i have to pay attention on how i use them...don't wanna impal them on the KB again...
He has for sure hundreds of fighters there...i'm sure of that... He keeps on killing 5/6 planes of mine on naval search every day...so that means 350 fighters on CAP...at least!
No way i'm gonna test it again![:D]

This one was a very good ASW turn.
Our Conrados managed to hit a sub near Jaluit, while one of our ASW TF attacked and sunk another sub east of Maloelap.[8D] ...it's getting quite hot for those little bastards!![;)]


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/28/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 88,89

Japanese Ships
SS I-28, hits 10, on fire, heavy damage[:D][:D][:D]

Allied Ships
DMS Boggs
DMS Trevor
DMS Zane
DMS Hopkins
DD Cummings
DD Mahan

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Karachi, at 21,3

Japanese Ships
CA Kako
CA Aoba
CA Haguro
CA Takao
CA Tone


Allied ground losses:
2265 casualties reported
Guns lost 20

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 22
Port hits 5
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kweiyang , at 41,34

Japanese aircraft
D3A2 Val x 59
Ki-30 Ann x 29
Ki-32 Mary x 21
Ki-15 Babs x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A2 Val: 2 destroyed, 20 damaged
Ki-30 Ann: 10 damaged
Ki-32 Mary: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged
Ki-15 Babs: 2 damaged


Allied ground losses:
140 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 17
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 72

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kweiyang , at 41,34

Japanese aircraft
D3A2 Val x 105
Ki-49 Helen x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A2 Val: 2 destroyed, 29 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 1 damaged


Allied ground losses:
69 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 15
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 47


He clearly wants to deny me any supply....[:@]



Day Air attack on Karachi , at 21,3

Another bad day at Karachi...[:o]

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 56
G3M Nell x 75
G4M1 Betty x 171

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 5 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 10 damaged


Allied ground losses:
164 casualties reported

Airbase hits 18
Airbase supply hits 11
Runway hits 120

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Chungking , at 43,32

And at Chungking too....[:(][>:]

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 33
Ki-49 Helen x 170

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49 Helen: 1 destroyed, 15 damaged


Allied ground losses:
96 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 17
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 88



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Manila

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1414 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1059

Defending force 139956 troops, 1337 guns, 431 vehicles, Assault Value = 2727

Japanese max assault: 2 - adjusted assault: 0[8|][8|]

Allied max defense: 2962 - adjusted defense: 25065

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 9)


Japanese ground losses:
26 casualties reported

[Gen.Hoepner]

ORIGINAL: Andy Mac

By attacking with a unit even a small cnstruction one ALL of the Arty in his army fires without him having to bombard attack.

Thus the disruption and fatigue of his army stays low.

But I suspect that one was a recon attack if he repeats every day with a different unit then its weird. 

p.s. it raises the supply consumption level of all your units.

What is your monthly supply requirement at Karachi ?

At manila he's doing the same as u see...

However Andy, as soon as i get home i'll check the monthly supply consumption...

Thx[;)]

[Gen.Hoepner]

ORIGINAL: Andy Mac

By attacking with a unit even a small cnstruction one ALL of the Arty in his army fires without him having to bombard attack.

Thus the disruption and fatigue of his army stays low.

But I suspect that one was a recon attack if he repeats every day with a different unit then its weird. 

p.s. it raises the supply consumption level of all your units.

What is your monthly supply requirement at Karachi ?

Karachi's monthly supply is 15,500 supplies...quite a lot!...this after the last days of heavy bombings at shock attacks...


You can see where the KB is now...passed Kwajalein and moving NE towards Wake...[&:][&:][&:]

[Gen.Hoepner]

Babylon operation still on scheldue, till the KB is lurking in the pacific...
 
The new operation in the pacific is called "Three Queens".
 
More updates to follow soon

[Gen.Hoepner]

Few days and the B-24s will come on-line...along with the Avengers...i'm really looking forward!! With the B-24s our strenght will be upgraded!