Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apbarog(A) vs OPilot(J)

[apbarog]

16 Jul 43

In the morning, about 30 Bettys arrived over Denpassar, and they were unescorted from Kendari, I believe. They found a squadron of P-47s and another of F4Us. This was the first combat for the Thunderbolts in the war. All of the bombers that didn't abort the mission were shot down before dropping bombs. In the afternoon, 26 Tojos arrived over Denpassar. Up until today, the Allies had shot down a total of 1 Tojo in the war. But today, they went up against the Thunderbolts and Corsairs. Total air losses for the day were 24 Bettys and 14 Tojos. One F4U was an ops loss. I like that ratio. It could have been even better. I had moved 28 Hellcats to Denpassar also, but I neglected to order them into the air.

KB and battleships went back north to Balikpapan. A US minelayer dropped 200 mines at Denpassar, and 2 US subs dropped some mines at Banjoewangi. All shipping continues to head away from the front. I decided that almost all invasion shipping will go to Derby. Follow-up units that didn't land at the captured bases will unload and reload on APAs, AKAs and LSTs for a quicker unload at the final destinations. Carriers will escort. I hope to time the follow-up landings when KB isn't in the immediate area. With the best assault ships, I hope to land in one day and be gone.

Our hero ship ARD Dewey has been moving north along the eastern coast of Australia, destined for northern Australia. Today it "sustains damage when under tow", and is now SYS 8/FLOT 15-0/ENG 5-0/FIRE 0. It is just east of Portland Roads, where it will now go to make repairs. After Dewey's brave escape from Manila by passing through mainland Japan's coastal waters, the crew has adopted the motto "Lead from the front, load in the back".

With the huge minefield at Soerabaja, I'm starting to think that Truk is probably heavily mined also. That's going to be a tough capture, with battleships guarding, maybe a huge minefield, and lots of big coastal guns overlooking the approach. I'm sending more minesweepers to the Marshalls. I may have to sacrifice a bunch of them at Truk.

I spent a lot of time planning the next big operation out of Ceylon. Similar to what happened with the planning for the previous Rangoon operation, there aren't nearly enough xAPs to do what I want to do in one big landing. I've ordered lots of xAPs, mostly very big and very fast ones, to head to Ceylon. I had a surplus of those types at San Francisco, where the next division sized unit won't appear for another 80 or so days. So a number of big transports head from California to Panama, where they will then head to Aden, using the Mediterranean. I'm not sure if going to Ceylon is faster going through Aden or Capetown, when starting at Panama. From the manual, it's faster to get to Capetown than Aden, but ships leaving Aden get on the map quickly, while ships leaving Capetown take a couple of weeks or so.

[BBfanboy]

Floating Drydock - Heal Thyself? [8|]
You can load supplies on those transports headed to Capetown, but Panama is too slow for that so do it at SFO if they haven't left yet. Every shipload brought on-map helps.

[apbarog]

Definitely BBfanboy. All transports are loading supply for the trip to Ceylon. Never miss an opportunity to move men or material on ships going somewhere already. Early in the war, I loaded excess resources in Australia and sent them to Pearl Harbor on ships returning to the West Coast. In case that Hawaii was attacked, Pearl Harbor would be able to generate a bit of supply. Not a big deal, but why not do it when the ships are heading that way already.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: apbarog

Definitely BBfanboy. All transports are loading supply for the trip to Ceylon. Never miss an opportunity to move men or material on ships going somewhere already. Early in the war, I loaded excess resources in Australia and sent them to Pearl Harbor on ships returning to the West Coast. In case that Hawaii was attacked, Pearl Harbor would be able to generate a bit of supply. Not a big deal, but why not do it when the ships are heading that way already.

+1 We think alike. I have active ops going on in the Marshalls with two more Japanese bases to reduce and take, so there is shipping in the area with empty holds. It's not that far to Nauru and Ocean Islands so I load up resources there and head for PH. The resources from Hilo were not keeping up with PH usage but thanks to in-transit deliveries I now have 55K resources at PH and more enroute. Once the war moves on from the Marshalls area, PH will have to work with accumulated resources and regular deliveries from Hilo.

And Aussie shipping to the Marshalls also loads resources at Nauru and Ocean Islands on the return journey. NZ pulls from Suva and Noumea.

[apbarog]

17 Jul 43

Silversides is on the northern side of the main island of Japan, on an estimated convoy route. SigInt had said that a cargo ship was moving to Nigato or something like that. It's a base on the northern side of the island, not near the northern tip near Ominato. The sub spotted cargo ships today, and spottings through the replay confirm a northeast to southwest route from the city. But Silversides missed xAK Nitiran Maru with 2 torpedoes.

O21 missed a patrol boat escorting 2 AOs west of Babeldaob. And then missed another patrol boat in the same task force.

Finback missed a subchaser near Puerto Princesa. Puffer missed a subchaser near Toyohara. Starting to see a trend for today?

Slow battleships Mississippi and Idaho bombarded Majuro in preparation for a para drop later in the day. I'm contemplating sending 4 slow battleships to Truk to battle the 4 enemy battleships guarding the base. That could be quite a fight. Could be a disaster too. I need Truk cleared but I also need the battleships to be able to bombard Truk repeatedly.

Bettys with Zeros bombed Great Nicobar. This is the Allied base in the Andamans furthest to the south, close to Sabang. It became a level one airfield recently and that got OPilot's attention. I'm doing daily recon of Sabang from there. Sabang seems to be empty.

In China, OPilot has switched to a strategic bombing campaign, hitting several cities today, and knocking out some light industry. He's doing it with overwhelming escorts, so not much point in trying to guess where he's going tomorrow without an overwhelming defense of my own. I play the guessing game occasionally, but on most days, the Allied fighters stay at the capital.

Majuro was bombed heavily by US heavy and medium bombers. I got a Ranger para unit on the West Coast recently, and I noticed that it's only available for a couple of months. So I rushed it on fast transports to Tarawa, and dropped it on Majuro today with no preparation for the base. I used about 60 C-47s, so most but not all of the paras dropped.

Ground combat at Majuro (136,119)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 565 troops, 5 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 50

Defending force 1131 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 7

Allied adjusted assault: 34

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 34 to 1 (fort level 3)

Allied forces CAPTURE Majuro !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender:
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(-)

Japanese ground losses:
1447 casualties reported
Squads: 57 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 69 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units destroyed 2

Assaulting units:
1st Spec Svc Force /1

Defending units:
48th Naval Guard Unit
Majuro Base Force

The attack looked spectacular, but the results were due to daily bombing of the base and troops for weeks, and the battleship bombardment overnight didn't hurt. Just 2 enemy bases left in the Marshalls.

Recon of Saipan shows a big increase in the number of enemy troops, with there now being over 37,000 men. OPilot got worried that I was headed that way. I could have been. I have all of the bases that the US had prior to going to the Mariannas: Kwajalein, Eniwetok, Roi Namur, etc. And I have Wake too. But I'm not going there soon. I still want Truk. Working with divided carrier fleets, I can't do the Mariannas. It would take everything I have. I can handle Truk with half of my carriers if KB isn't around and I can shut down the airfield. I've proven that I can do that. It's just those enemy battleships that I need deal with.

[obvert]

Be careful about Truk. I'd bypass if I were you. It's a tough cookie and if he has forts built, even tougher. Work it down by isolation, maybe. Saipan is also a bear.

The Northern Marshalls (Pagan, Anatahan, etc) are usually easy pickings and they can support decent airfields and ports to then shield bombardment TFs and the next level of invasions.

If you go for Truk make sure your shipyards are free, as you'll be sending 3-4 BBs in for a year or two. [;)]

[apbarog]

Thanks for the thoughts obvert. It's a tough decision. I've had 3 divisions of troops and support ready to go to Truk for awhile now. Taking Truk would open up all sorts of possibilities, one of which is cutting off the Solomons and all the enemy that would be trapped there. But Truk would be difficult.

I have benefited from keeping pressure both east of west of New Guinea. If I were to cancel the Truk operation, I would still want to give the appearance of a threat there. It has already forced my opponent to garrison the Mariannas, and we're only in July 1943. If I were to cancel Truk, I could pull those 3 divisions out and use them elsewhere. Possibly Java, to reinforce at Banjoewangi or follow up other troops already prepping for another landing. There's always something to be said for concentrating forces at a point of breakthrough. As long as I can continue to present a perceived threat elsewhere. I don't want the enemy all in one spot, the spot I want to attack.

Tough decisions. I have to admit to wanting to see 4 old US battleships go up against 4 enemy battleships. That would be quite a site. But not necessarily one with a good outcome.

[Macclan5]

ORIGINAL: obvert

Be careful about Truk. I'd bypass if I were you. It's a tough cookie and if he has forts built, even tougher. Work it down by isolation, maybe. Saipan is also a bear.

The Northern Marshalls (Pagan, Anatahan, etc) are usually easy pickings and they can support decent airfields and ports to then shield bombardment TFs and the next level of invasions.

If you go for Truk make sure your shipyards are free, as you'll be sending 3-4 BBs in for a year or two. [;)]

In support of Obvert's Observation but also a question for your Admiral Apbarog...

Truk without Keviering (spelling - North of Rabul) ?? Good idea or not ?

You don't have to have Rabul if it is properly suppressed via Munda / Shortlands / Guadalcanal.

With Ponape / Einiwitok (spelling sorry) do you have big enough bases to host heavy bombers ? Within Range of Truk ? Especially without Kavieing ?

As I recall K-town can develop into a large Airbase. It is probably only 'partially reasonably' defended compared to Truk and Rabul. It cuts of sealanes.

Above all 4 squadrons of Liberators / 1 Escort of Lightnings can reduce Truk via Port and Airfield damage till the IJA guys are eating grass and shoestrings ; give them a Marine Squadron of Corsairs and Dauntless to patrol those sealanes and you effectively have Naval isolation - saving your ships a lot of grief from mines/ coastal batteries ??

Your insights always appreciated.

[apbarog]

Kavieng is the base north of Rabaul. If I take Truk, I'm not concerned about Kavieng. Or Rabaul, for that matter. My plan was to take Truk and then move to Wewak and Manus. That would cut off the Solomons, for all practical purposes. A landing at Kavieng is a bit more difficult than my plan, with Kavieng being closer to Rabaul.

In our game, it's difficult to suppress the important bases, like Bangkok, Rabaul, Truk, Manando etc. They all tend to have about 100 fighters. Ponape can support some bombers, but I need multiple P-38 squadrons there to clear out the fighters at Truk first. Bombers can also reach Truk from Kusaie, but at extended range.

I do think I can suppress Truk with fighters and bombers, but Truk is easy to resupply from the Mariannas.

My overall strategic plan is to advance through the oil producing regions of Java, Sumatra and Borneo. Not going to the Mariannas. My secondary plan was to take Truk and cut off the Solomons. Maybe I should reinforce my primary objective and shelf the secondary one.

[Macclan5]

Thanks for the reply.

I love your thinking - primary and secondary.

Truk is a great idea for all your reasons listed - and because many allied generals / history bypassed it - I think some Japanese players fall prey to "under" supporting.

The challenge in my mind - and you are more experienced than I am - is:

"Can you get enough bombers dropping on Truk" to suppress supply through Port / Airfield damage."

The "right number is <<insert here>>"

Sweeps are okay but the coastal guns / mines / likely fortifications will require an extended commitment and beat up the forces committed.

I think the heavies have to be part of the plan to take Truk to reduce or minimize the damage to your ships / landing forces.

Once you have swept him out of Truk Skies the bombers could go in un-escorted - but he can also resupply from Rabul / Guam.

[apbarog]

I don't know the answer to that question. By cycling B-24 squadrons into and out of Ponape and Kusaie, I think I can suppress Truk. The biggest difficulty that I see is with the P-38s sweeping. They take a long time to repair. The Japanese can fly in fresh squadrons from the Mariannas, or Rabaul, easily. It would be a costly and time-consuming operation, and one that may not succeed. The P-38 sweeps would have to continue until the airfield is absolutely out of action. I would be able to destroy the supply at Truk; resupply is too easy. It's a tough issue.

Leaning more toward a ground unit redeployment away from Truk, while occasionally doing the P-38/B-24 treatment to keep up the appearance of pressure.

[apbarog]

Another point. I have 2 new divisions that recently left the West Coast, headed to the Marshalls. They were planning for Wewak and Manus. If I cancel the Truk operation, that would free up those divisions also, making a total of 5 divisions available to redeploy west of New Guinea.

I may leave one division on Ponape. Ponape gets regular enemy recon. Might be better not to show a pullback there. I would remove the 2 divisions at Kusaie, giving me 4 divisions available.

[jwolf]

The problem with bypassing Rabaul and Truk is there are so few other really good ports in that area. It's not too hard to get good airfields, but the ports are very scarce and, consequently, very valuable. I know the US made do without either of these bases in the real war, though in this war that may or may not be so easy.

[Anachro]

Manus is a perfectly acceptable replacement for either of those, as it was in real life. That said, I'm not sure of Manus' status if this is a stock game.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: jwolf

The problem with bypassing Rabaul and Truk is there are so few other really good ports in that area. It's not too hard to get good airfields, but the ports are very scarce and, consequently, very valuable. I know the US made do without either of these bases in the real war, though in this war that may or may not be so easy.

Ulitihi was the historic USN fleet anchorage in late 1944. In stock the port can be built to size 6 but the airfield has an SPS of (0). Nearby Yap can make up for that with a good airfield and moderate sized port (4?). These two could be used to suppress Guam/Rota/Tinian and Babeldaob/Peleliu. Shipping supplies to those bases would require carrier escort until you can take North NG or Guam/Tinian. Guam is 13 hexes from Truk - good range for B-17s. Ponape is only 10 hexes from Truk so medium bombers can be used if the fighters at Truk are grounded. There is another small dot base between Kavieng and Manus that is 13 hexes from Truk. I like to have multiple air bases in range to suppress because weather will often shut down flights from a couple of them.

[apbarog]

18 Jul 43

Sub Lapon hit xAKL Kennichi Maru with a torpedo near Rota. Audio says that the ship sank soon after.

Some long range ASW planes were moved to Ponape, and they lit up about 6 subs between Ponape and Truk.

The decision was made to cancel a Truk invasion and to move the units to Darwin to prepare for other activities. The following units are being moved:

From Ponape:
34th Combat Engineers
110 Combat Engineers

From Kusaie:
766 Tank
767 Tank
147 Field Artillery
205 Field Artillery
151 Combat Engineers
134 Combat Engineers
1 Amphtrac Unit
2 Amphtrac Unit
1st US Corp HQ
US 40th Infantry Division
US 1st Marine Division

Ships are headed from Tabiteuea to pick them all up. All of the carriers and the four slow battleships are going also, as are the APAs, AKs, AKAs and LSTs in the area. From now on, it'll be all smoke and mirrors around Truk. I'll do another maximum effort with P-38s over Truk when there's shipping loading at Ponape, to give the appearance of something about to happen.

[Bif1961]

I bypassed Truk and suppressed it with more than a dozen B-24 squadrons but it took 6 months. The biggest problem was AAA and not the enemy fighters. Also heavily damage the port so any resupply mission has to spend longer there and can be targeted by subs and aircraft or maybe raiding DDs. In RL Truk was bypassed and became a PoW camp self-contained that is. I did take Rabaul, Manus and most of the Solomons and NG north coast skipping a few along the way. Marianas still remain an objective but I control the Paulas, Carolines and all the way to Tarakan, included, along with Mindanao in March 44.

[apbarog]

Flak at Truk was very bad when I sent in the B-24s recently. I was still taking losses after moving up the bombing altitude to 25,000 too. I think some of the large flak units from Tokyo were moved to Truk. So yes, flak there is a big issue. Bombing from 25,000 feet is very ineffective. I will still keep up some pressure on Truk, with huge P-38 sweeps and maybe some bombing if the fighters are cleared. But there won't be an invasion now.

[apbarog]

19 Jul 43

Little to report today. No sign of KB, missing from Balikpapan for 3 or 4 days now. Submarine Whale had an interesting encounter east of Formosa.

Sub attack near Ishigaki at 90,68

Japanese Ships
CV Katsuragi
CA Tone
CS Chitose
DD Akebono
DD Tanikaze

Allied Ships
SS Whale, hits 4

SS Whale launches 6 torpedoes at CV Katsuragi

One torpedo hit, but it was a dud. That's 2 dud hits since the first 2 effective torpedo hits on Katsuragi. The carrier was showing smoke but no damage listed in the report. Another chance at finishing it off, but no luck. Whale was hit by a depth charge and will retire to Darwin.

On Java, I wasn't going to advance out of Banjoewangi, not having an overwhelming force there, but there's been no enemy advance towards me. The nearest base to the west, and Malang, and the mountain hex in between are all empty. So I decided to move out the armor unit that I've been ferrying over from Denpassar. It'll will move into the mountains. I split the infantry division into thirds. One third will stay at Banjoewangi. The other two thirds will advance westward. I do see movement out of Soerabaja now, for the first time, and in my direction. The enemy could easily rail into Malang or the other base. I will probably get into the mountain hex first though. With no enemy fighters spotted at Soerabaja, and still some damage there from my battleship bombardment, I ordered B-24s to hit enemy troops and the airfield there. At least I may learn what is moving out of the city. There's fewer than 15,000 men there, so it isn't heavily defended. Except by mines, apparently.

[apbarog]

20 Jul 43

North of Ambon, O19 missed destroyer Harukaze and S-30 missed light cruiser Natori. It appears that they were running into and out of Ambon at night.

West of Babeldaob, Hoe hit AO Shinkoku Maru with a torpedo, but it was a dud. There are several AOs in this task force.

Bettys bombed Great Nicobar, destroying a Catalina on the ground. The usual random sweeping and bombing by the enemy in China. I don't mention it often, but it's like that every day. The targets always change and there's usually a strong escort and sometimes a sweep.

B-24s hit the 21st Special Base Force at Soerabaja. An armor unit moved out of Soerabaja to Malang. Other B-24s hit the airfield, doing moderate damage. No enemy planes there.

Loading at Derby has begun. This is loading of follow-up units, mostly for Mataram, that were unable to unload with the invasion push. Good APAs and LSTs are being used for the support troops this time. Carriers will support. If KB stays hidden, we may go for the Kendari area invasions following the dropping off of these units.

SigInt says that the 91st Naval Guard unit is at Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean. I'm unloading 2 units at nearby Cocos Island now, unseen so far. I will stop building the airfield just before it gets to size 1, so I don't alert OPilot to my activities. I don't want to draw attention to that area, with a big operation planned for Sumatra coming from Ceylon. Once enough transports get to Ceylon. And that will be awhile.