Australia Invaded!! NY59Giants (A) vs Olorin (J)

[1EyedJacks]

He now has three full divisions plus most of the 2nd Division here. What is he waiting for??

A burning bush...

Hey - regarding shock and awe - can you can get any ships with FP close enough for a night recon of the Brisbane port? I dunno if it would help a night bombing run but they help out for night-time bombardment missions...

[ny59giants]

June 20, 21, 22:
Just the normal bombing missions and ground bb attacks.

Key: TT = Torpedo; bb = ground bombardment; c = casualties; b = base hits; s = supply hits; r = runway hits; p = port hits; AV = Assault Value; DC = Depth Charged; (*) = destroyed aircraft;

Subs:
Stingray is off Carnarvon and gets an TT hit on an empty AO.
Pompano hits an xAK off Exmouth with a single TT.
Spearfish is SE of Horn Island and hits an AK with a single TT.
I-26 survives a DC attack by PC and AM 3 hexes SW of Pearl.

CVs: [>:][>:]

India/Burma:[>:][>:]

China:
Yenan - Up to 30 Sally hit AF daily;

Up to 4 ground bb attacks daily; The good news is all those troops are getting their experience levels up to 50 or above.

By Passed:
Batavia - Up to 9 Nell hit AF daily while 7 Lily hit troops;

Ground combat at Batavia (49,98) on 20th

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 68462 troops, 624 guns, 546 vehicles, Assault Value = 2005

Defending force 30786 troops, 229 guns, 177 vehicles, Assault Value = 669

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 2988

Allied adjusted defense: 999

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), leaders(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
5165 casualties reported
Squads: 18 destroyed, 384 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 38 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 93 disabled
Guns lost 27 (1 destroyed, 26 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
2106 casualties reported
Squads: 29 destroyed, 96 disabled
Non Combat: 43 destroyed, 39 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 37 (5 destroyed, 32 disabled)
Vehicles lost 71 (28 destroyed, 43 disabled)
Units destroyed 2

Cebu - Up to 7 Sally hit AF daily;

Australia:
Bourke -
20th - 7(3)Zero are no match for 22 P-40E on sweep; 1 Zero is unable to slow down 16 Wirraway, 12 A-29 Hudson, & 44 B-18A Bolo = 6b, 4s, 27r; 40 B-17E Fortress & 6 LB-30 Liberator = 6b, 5s, 16r; 10 Oscars are destroyed on the ground!! [:D] This is what happens when your AF is not connected by rail.
21st - 18 P-40E and then another 18 P-40E sweep the empty skies; 16 Wirraway, 12 A-29, & 32 B-18A = 3b, 3s, 21r; 10 B-17E & 6 = 1b, 1s, 16r; 30 B-17E = 2b, 1s, 17r; AF damage is at 91.
22nd - 16 Wirraway = 1b, 3r; 49 B-17E = 7b, 8s, 20r; 12 A-29 & 34 B-18A = 5b, 6s, 38r; 6 LB-30 Liberator = 1b, 5r;

near Kalgoorlie at 59, 148 (3 east) - 4th Australian Division is hit again by 23 Sally = 135c and then by another 25 Sally = 156c on 20th; 4th Australian Division is still the target on the 21st as 28 Sally = 133c and 20 Sally = 80c; the 22nd still has the 4th in the sights of 23 Sally = 64c and 20 Sally = 94c;

Ground combat at 59,150 (near Esperance)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 372 troops, 0 guns, 71 vehicles, Assault Value = 35

Defending force 2508 troops, 20 guns, 26 vehicles, Assault Value = 14

Japanese adjusted assault: 58

Allied adjusted defense: 14

Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1

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

Allied ground losses:
625 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 15 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 5 disabled
Vehicles lost 4 (2 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Units retreated 3

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
2nd Tank Regiment

Defending units:
3rd RAN Base Force
1st RAN Base Force
5th RAAF Base Force

Will my BFs eventually make it to Port Augusta or be destroyed before they get across the desert??

Broken Hill at 81,160 (1 East) -
21st - 6th Gds Div is hit by 26 B-26 = 305c; 16th Gds Regiment vs 11 B-26 = 98c; 65th Brigade vs 9 B-26 = 63c;
22nd - 6th Gds Division vs 29 B-26 = 430c; 15th Gds Regiment vs 8 B-26 = 36c;

South Pacific: [>:][>:]

Notes:
A normal three days stretch of turns.

[JocMeister]

Is he still reluctant to cross the LOD? If so I say use that against him! You can zoom in and out using the LOD for protection! [:'(]

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

Is he still reluctant to cross the LOD? If so I say use that against him! You can zoom in and out using the LOD for protection! [:'(]

Yeah, I was wondering if it might be feasible to send a bunch of units to surround Bourke, enter the hex from all sides except the south one and force the enemy to retreat across the LOD and trigger the reinforcements. Difficult to orchestrate but IIRC, there are several small tank and M/G units in Oz early on.

[ny59giants]

June 23, 24, 25:
Aukland is mined
I've now lost more subs to mines than ASW. [:(] [X(]
Night bombing starts on the 25th by Allies as moonlight approaches 100%

Key: TT = Torpedo; bb = ground bombardment; c = casualties; b = base hits; s = supply hits; r = runway hits; p = port hits; AV = Assault Value; DC = Depth Charged; (*) = destroyed aircraft;

Subs:
Seadragon and Sturgeon both hit two mines each at Merak (Java). Sturgeon sinks while a heavily damaged Seadragon limps into Batavia. I wonder why both my subs are doing up there and figure out that they had a home port of Esperance in western Australia and when that base fell they switched to the closest base from their patrol zones off NE Australia and that was Batavia. I then discover two more subs in the area and they don't have enough fuel to get to safety. They are ordered to Colombo, but only have enough fuel to get midway up the western coast of Sumatra before they run out.
Adak Island - S-27 gets the better of a sub vs sub encounter with RO-34 and sinks her with a single TT. [:)]
Saury off Cairns goes to the surface to sink an xAK with one TT and 13 shell hits. As many Allied players know, they get the dreaded, "Hit! but no explosion" message over and over and over again. She emptied her tubes and returns to base after getting ONE TT to actually explode.
Off Kona - I-23 sinks AM Turkey with single TT.

CVs: Allies are three days out of Pearl

India/Burma:
Rangoon - on the 25th sees 11 B-17D Fortress from Calcutta = 2p at night; 12 Oscars are on CAP during the day as 12(3) Wellington come in at 5k to hit the port = 1p, CM Kamome, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage and CM Sarushima, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires;

China:
Yenan - Up to 31 Sally hit the AF daily

Up to 4 bb ground attacks daily.

By Passed:
Batavia - Up to 9 Nell hit the AF daily while 7 Lily hit the troops; at least one bb ground attack every few days;

Ground combat at Batavia (49,98) on 24th

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 64689 troops, 594 guns, 535 vehicles, Assault Value = 1841

Defending force 28569 troops, 220 guns, 151 vehicles, Assault Value = 532

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 1748

Allied adjusted defense: 697

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(-), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
3017 casualties reported
Squads: 12 destroyed, 181 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 39 disabled
Engineers: 23 destroyed, 77 disabled
Guns lost 18 (1 destroyed, 17 disabled)
Vehicles lost 20 (1 destroyed, 19 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
2497 casualties reported
Squads: 52 destroyed, 86 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 136 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Guns lost 35 (19 destroyed, 16 disabled)
Vehicles lost 63 (29 destroyed, 34 disabled)

My days here are numbered, but I've held out far longer than I expected to.

Cebu - Up to 8 Sally hit the AF daily

Australia:
Bourke -
23rd - 16 Wirraway & 21 B-18A Bolo = 1b, 2s, 10r; 20 B-17E Fortress & 6 LB-30 Liberator = 6b, 3s, 30r;
25th - Nick has a LRCAP surprise for me!?! 44(1) Zero, 15(2) Oscar, and 11 Tojo vs 50(6) P-40E escorting in 13(2) Wirraway and 6 B-18A Bolo = 2r; 38 Zero, 8 Oscar, and 10 Tojo vs 26(3) B-18A Bolo = 5r;

Ground combat at 59,151 (near Esperance) on 23rd

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 384 troops, 0 guns, 71 vehicles, Assault Value = 34

Defending force 2306 troops, 20 guns, 26 vehicles, Assault Value = 15

Japanese adjusted assault: 48

Allied adjusted defense: 7

Japanese assault odds: 6 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: leaders(+), fatigue(-), morale(-), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(+)

Allied ground losses:
857 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 28 destroyed, 25 disabled
Engineers: 19 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 19 (5 destroyed, 14 disabled)
Vehicles lost 7 (3 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Units retreated 3

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
2nd Tank Regiment

Defending units:
3rd RAN Base Force
1st RAN Base Force
5th RAAF Base Force

Afterwards, a small arrow points this tank rgt back to cut off my 4th Div and others from a line of retreat.

Kalgoorlie - 4 hexes to east, 4th Australian Div is hit by 48 Sally = 193c on 24th; she is hit again on 25th by 47 Sally = 284c;

Ground combat at 59,148 (near Kalgoorlie) on 24th

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 1080 troops, 12 guns, 192 vehicles, Assault Value = 102

Defending force 8700 troops, 108 guns, 18 vehicles, Assault Value = 254

Japanese adjusted assault: 74

Allied adjusted defense: 95

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 19 (1 destroyed, 18 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
438 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 18 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
7th Ind.Tank Brigade

Defending units:
Makassar Garrison Battalion
4th Australian Division
Timor Garrison Battalion
44th Australian Battalion
12th Avn Sup Afd
12th RAAF Base Force

Can I destroy and/or disable enough tanks to escape??

Brisbane - Severe storms on the 25th limit the effectiveness and number of bombers that fly at night. I had move significant numbers to both Newcastle and Sydney and spent PP to upgrade the RAAF HQ leader. 15(1) Hudson I = 0 [&:]

South Pacific:
Aukland - On 24th, 111 mines are swept (looks like a lot of subs were used); 17 more are swept on 25th;

Notes:
Troops for scheduled invasion of Gilberts load at San Fran for a trip to Pearl to unload. Meanwhile, the 'Fleet" heads for Pearl for repairs and upgrades.

[ny59giants]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

Is he still reluctant to cross the LOD? If so I say use that against him! You can zoom in and out using the LOD for protection!

Yeah, I was wondering if it might be feasible to send a bunch of units to surround Bourke, enter the hex from all sides except the south one and force the enemy to retreat across the LOD and trigger the reinforcements. Difficult to orchestrate but IIRC, there are several small tank and M/G units in Oz early on.

I've thought about this and I don't think I have enough troops to keep him from steadily pushing me back to Sydney and Melbourne. I have 5 Aussie divisions plus 2 American divisions plus some other smaller units. He has the OOB from Scenario 2 here, so he has the troops. I need more air power and that will not happen till 43.

[ny59giants]

EDIT - Yes this is a duplicate posting, but I try to remember to copy a posting before I finish it just in case the forum gives me an error. It did this time, but I got it to post after multiple tries. [:)] Everybody hates to put time into a long posting and then lose it.

[ny59giants]

June 26, 27, 28:
Night bombing reaps some rewards!! [:D]
Batavia Falls!!

Key: TT = Torpedo; bb = ground bombardment; c = casualties; b = base hits; s = supply hits; r = runway hits; p = port hits; AV = Assault Value; DC = Depth Charged; (*) = destroyed aircraft;

Subs:

Sub attack near Pearl Harbor at 178,111 on 28th

Japanese Ships
SS I-28

Allied Ships
CV Enterprise
CA Minneapolis
CA Pensacola
CL Nashville
DD Smith
DD Mugford
DD Tucker
DD Downes
DD Cummings
DD Preston

SS I-28 launches 6 torpedoes at CV Enterprise

I allowed the 'thundering herd' of CVs to come into Pearl by the direct route and don't use waypoints this close. I get lucky here, but......

Sub attack near Pearl Harbor at 179,110

Japanese Ships
SS I-23

Allied Ships
CA San Francisco, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage (SUNK!!)

CVs: Allies CVs arrive at Pearl, start repairs, and upgrades.

India/Burma:
Rangoon -
26th - 11 Oscar vs 6(2) Wellington Ic = CM Sarushima, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage [:)]; 11 Oscar vs 8 B-17D Fortress = AMc Toseki Maru, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk; 9 Oscar vs 11 B-17D Fortress = CM Sarushima, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk;
27th - 23 Oscar vs 10(1) Wellington Ic = 0; 22 Oscar vs 19(1) B-17D Fortress = 11p, 1s;

Mandalay -
27th @ night - 40 Blenheim IV = 4b, 1s, 14r; 16 B-25C Mitchell = 3b, 4s, 14r, 2 Sally, 2 Oscar;

China:
Yenan - Up to 28 Sally hit the AF daily;

Sian -
26th - 27 Oscar with 12 Ann, 25 Lily, 15 Sonia = 6b, 2s, 22r;
27th - 27 Oscar, 25 Lily, 34 Ann, 9 Sonia = 5b, 1s, 27r;
28th - 30 Oscar,

Changsha -
27th - 22 Oscar with 17 Sonia = 9b, 2s, 10r;
28th - 2(1) Oscar vs 28(1) H81-A3; 10(4) Oscar vs 27(1) H81-A3; [:)]

Up to 3 ground bb attacks daily

By Passed:
[/u]Batavia - Up to 9 Nell hit the AF or port daily;

Ground combat at Batavia (49,98) on 27th

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 63485 troops, 594 guns, 534 vehicles, Assault Value = 1772

Defending force 26349 troops, 197 guns, 126 vehicles, Assault Value = 394

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 2939

Allied adjusted defense: 387

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

Japanese forces CAPTURE Batavia !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
Do-24K-1: 1 destroyed
PBY-5 Catalina: 2 destroyed

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

Japanese ground losses:
1798 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 71 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 34 disabled
Engineers: 7 destroyed, 47 disabled
Vehicles lost 17 (2 destroyed, 15 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
35908 casualties reported
Squads: 446 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1902 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 55 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 226 (226 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 131 (131 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 22

Assaulting units:
21st Ind Engineer Regiment
23rd Division
2nd Recon Regiment
20th Ind Engineer Regiment
2nd Engineer Regiment
38th Division
14th Division
24th Infantry Regiment
1st Ind Engineer Regiment
16th Infantry Regiment
146th Infantry Regiment
3rd Ind Engineer Regiment
11th Garrison Unit
7th Tank Regiment
1st Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion
16th Army
41st Ind.AA Gun Co
16th AA Regiment
2nd Hvy.Artillery Regiment
Botanko Hvy Gun Regiment
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
8th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
Tonei Hvy Gun Regiment
5th Fleet
2nd Field Artillery Regiment
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
44th Field AA Battalion

Defending units:
2nd KNIL Landstorm Battalion
4th KNIL Landstorm Battalion
3rd KNIL Landstorm Battalion
1st KNIL Regiment
2nd KNIL Regiment
Mobiele Eenheid Battalion
6th KNIL Regiment
1st Regt Cavalerie
Roodenburg Battalion
KNI Leger
ABDA
Tjilitap KM Base Force
Batavia Defenses
ML-KNIL
4th KNIL Regiment
3rd KNIL AA Battalion
Batavia KM Base Force
Andir ML Base Force
KNI Zeemacht
1st KNIL AA Battalion
Tjilatjap KNIL Battalion
6th Avn Sup Afd

Cebu - Up to 6 Sally hit the AF daily

Australia:
Brisbane - I added up all the small strikes that went in
26th @ night - 20 Hudson, 4(1) LB-30 Liberator, 12 A-29 Hudson, 9 B-18A Bolo = 5r;
37 B-26 Marauder =

Japanese Ships
CL Sendai, Bomb hits 2
CL Naka, Bomb hits 2
SS I-3, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage (Sinking sounds heard)
CL Jintsu, Bomb hits 1
DD Myojinami, Bomb hits 1, on fire

26th @ day - 57(1) Oscar & 14 Nick are on CAP, but the 'Big Boys' don't care as 79(2) B-17E Fortress get through =

Japanese Ships
CL Jintsu, Bomb hits 8, on fire
CL Sendai, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CL Naka, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Oite, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
ACM Toshi Maru #3, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
DD Tadeyame, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Wakaba, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Myojinami, Bomb hits 1

3 Jakes show up on Air Losses as ground losses. So.... 3 CLs 'may' be sunk!! [:D]

Bourke -
26th - 13 Wirraway = 1b, 6r;
27th - 9 Zero vs 13 Wirraway = 3r;

at 59,149 , near Kalgoorlie -
26th - 44th Australian Battalion is attacked by 40 Sally = 168c;
27th - Timor Garrison Battalion is attacked by 23 Sally = 139c;
28th - Makassar Garrison Battalion is attacked by 47 Sally = 286c;

Ground combat at 59,148 (near Kalgoorlie) on 26th

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1062 troops, 12 guns, 192 vehicles, Assault Value = 93

Defending force 5057 troops, 88 guns, 16 vehicles, Assault Value = 149

Japanese adjusted assault: 37

Allied adjusted defense: 44

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Allied ground losses:
241 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 41 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Assaulting units:
7th Ind.Tank Brigade

Defending units:
4th Australian Division

Ground combat at 59,148 (near Kalgoorlie) on 28th

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 1068 troops, 12 guns, 192 vehicles, Assault Value = 88

Defending force 4852 troops, 88 guns, 16 vehicles, Assault Value = 122

Japanese adjusted assault: 36

Allied adjusted defense: 97

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 42 (7 destroyed, 35 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
284 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 30 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled

Assaulting units:
7th Ind.Tank Brigade

Defending units:
4th Australian Division

South Pacific:
Suva -
28th at night - 20 Nell, 18(1) Betty = 9b, 1s, 22r, 1 P-39;

Notes:
Intel - up to 72 ships at Perth per coastwatchers

[1EyedJacks]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Getting your fighters to fly as Escorts....

What are the key things to get this to happen??
I just had my medium bombers from Adelaide (distance 7 hexes) go in alone ONE hex east of Broken Hill and NONE of the four P-40 groups stationed there flew as Escorts. [:@][&:]

Are those 4 separate air groups? You can divide them (A/B/C) and set them to escort. I think it gives you more rolls ofthe dice for successful escort services <pun intended>. I know I share the same frustration as Japan when I'm attacking Manila/Clark from Takao. I think a fighter sweep to clear the enemy base of CAP is where I'd use most of my fighters and then use maybe a partial or two of a single air group as escort... You might shoot for changing to leaders with higher AIR ratings...

[ny59giants]

June 29, 30, July 1, 2, 3, 4:
The calm before the next storm?!?

Key: TT = Torpedo; bb = ground bombardment; c = casualties; b = base hits; s = supply hits; r = runway hits; p = port hits; AV = Assault Value; DC = Depth Charged; (*) = destroyed aircraft;

Subs:
I-23 is hit once directly by DC 3 SW of Pearl
Note - Nick was written to by Obvert in his AAR about the use of Jakes vs Glens on his subs. I replied that I would prefer him going back to Glens. Thanks Obvert!! [&o] I was wondering why he was so good at keeping track of TFs around my major ports. [8|]

CVs: Allies CVs undergoing repairs and upgrades at Pearl.

India/Burma: [>:][>:]
Back to normal...the "Quite War"

China:
Yenan - Up to 29 Sally hit the AF daily; same, same!

Up to 4, but usually 3, ground bb attacks daily from outside Ichang to east of Sian; I get an increase in troop experience while he destroys supplies;

Australia:
Tamworth -
29th - 42 Tojo sweep and destroy 4 of 25 Kittyhawks
30th - Tojo's return, but find the skies empty (not going to fight Tojo with kitty)

Toowoomba -
30th - Oscars are not a good enough CAP as my B-17s are able to hit the AF
1st - Tojo are added to the CAP and this causes the Allies to lose almost 20 B-17s to 4 Jap fighters for the day; this base will be left alone for the next few days. [;)]

Bourke - P-40s from Roto sweep before the B-25s & B-26s from Wagga Wagga hit the AF almost daily (weather permitting); the base is closed and an occasional Oscar is destroyed on the ground;

Broken Hill - My P-40s do NOT cover B-18s hitting the troops to the east on 1st; add this to the B-17s shot down over Toowoomba today and the Allies lose 28 bombers for the day [:(]

4 or 5 hexes east of Kalgoorlie - Almost 50 Sally hit the retreating troops daily; some shock attacks do not push me out, but the retreat is slow;

Perth - coastwatchers report 82 ships present on the 2nd; is there something being planned from here??

South Pacific:
Transport TF arrives at NZ that is to go to Australia. It contains almost 60k in supplies, SW HQ, 3x SeaBees, 2x TD, 2x FA.

Central Pacific:
BFs and construction units are headed for both Canton and Baker.

Notes:
Intel Reports - On 30th, it shows the 4th Gds Div at Perth; on 1st, it shows Imp Gds Div is prepping for Port Augusta; on 2nd, it shows 4th Div is prepping for Nadi;

Due to Intel reports and with the last of the retreating troops from Cairns and Townsville finally making it to safety, the 32 Div and other troops are ordered to move from Broken Hill to Port Augusta.

[obvert]

Note - Nick was written to by Obvert in his AAR about the use of Jakes vs Glens on his subs. I replied that I would prefer him going back to Glens. Thanks Obvert!! I was wondering why he was so good at keeping track of TFs around my major ports.

I hesitated for a while after I realized this was occurring trying to find data proving that no other aircraft could have been used on early war Japanese subs. I couldn't find anything proving this either way, but of course until the I-400 series late war subs no IJN sub used any other plane than the Glen.

I hate to call anyone out but just tried to ask if he had made you were aware of his upgrade choice. Seems it would be a pretty big difference. You would have figured it out soon enough when you saw a Jake loss after you nailed a sub.

I'm sure on several other ships there are some things we do that might not have been possibly due to space, such as the CVEs carrying large modern bombers and maybe some of the smaller minelayers carrying larger Jakes, or ships carrying spare planes.

[ny59giants]

July 5, 6, 7:
Storm clouds gathering!?!

Key: TT = Torpedo; bb = ground bombardment; c = casualties; b = base hits; s = supply hits; r = runway hits; p = port hits; AV = Assault Value; DC = Depth Charged; (*) = destroyed aircraft;

Subs:
2x ASW TFs with 4 DDs each head to 4 NW of Pearl and get only one direct DC hit on I-21
I-17 is on other side (west) of Aukland and my 2 Brit DDs are unable to hit her

CVs: Allies CVs continue repairs and upgrades at Pearl.

India/Burma: [>:][>:]
Back to normal...the "Quite War"continues

China:
Yenan - Up to 24 Sally hit AF daily

Up to 3 ground bb attacks daily between Nanyang and to east of Sian.

Australia:
Bourke - daily sweeps by P-40s followed by my B-25s and B-26s

4 to 5 hexes easterly of Kalgoorlie hit by almost 50 Sally daily

Ground combat at 59,149 (near Kalgoorlie) on 5th (4 hexes east of)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1020 troops, 12 guns, 189 vehicles, Assault Value = 53

Defending force 7277 troops, 106 guns, 18 vehicles, Assault Value = 149

Japanese adjusted assault: 21

Allied adjusted defense: 81

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 3

Combat modifiers
Defender: experience(-)
Attacker: op mode(-)

Japanese ground losses:
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 17 (1 destroyed, 16 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
26 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
7th Ind.Tank Brigade

Defending units:
Makassar Garrison Battalion
4th Australian Division (Disruption states above 70)
Timor Garrison Battalion
44th Australian Battalion
12th Avn Sup Afd
12th RAAF Base Force

South Pacific:
Transports have left NZ and are three days from Melbourne. Fingers crossed. [:D]

Notes:
While watching Combat Replay for 7th, there are two incidents in which multiple TFs show up off to west and then east of Albany. Suspicions at Allied HQ is for a landing at Port Augusta, Whyalla, and/or Ceduna. None would trigger the Emergency Reinforcements. Recent Intel reported elements of the uncombined 1st Tank Div at Townsville. Air assets and some troops are shifted to the western bases in southern Australia.

Small transports and assorted ships at Port Augusta and Adelaide head for the 'relatively' safe harbor of Melbourne. Some will head for NZ soon.

3rd Marine Div arrives at San Diego and is placed on RR for San Fran. I now have three full Marines plus a Rgt of 6th Div.

[ny59giants]

Just got 13 of these at San Fran. Now, where to send them??

[ny59giants]

July 8, 9, 10:
Storm clouds break, but not where I thought!?!

Key: TT = Torpedo; bb = ground bombardment; c = casualties; b = base hits; s = supply hits; r = runway hits; p = port hits; AV = Assault Value; DC = Depth Charged; (*) = destroyed aircraft;

Subs:
Spearfish sinks an xAKL off Cooktown
S-37 is hit once off Noumea by a TF of 3 DDs

CVs: The Brits are repaired along with Wasp at Pearl. Yorktown and Hornet will be done in 1 day, Enterprise in 3 days. Unfortunately, both Saratoga and Lexington are 18 days out. All are being send south.

India/Burma:[>:][>:]

China:
Yenan - Up to 27 Sally hit the AF daily

the daily ground bb attacks continue, up to 3 of them;

Australia:
Bourke - two groups of P-40s sweep daily; B-26s hit the AF on the 10th after a few days of rest (60 B-26 Marauder)

near Kalgoorlie (4 hexes to east) - 4th Australian Div is subject to daily attacks by up to 42 Sally; she moves one hex on 9th to join the other fleeing troops and joins them for a shock attack on the 10th

Ground combat at 60,150 (near Esperance)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 7020 troops, 101 guns, 18 vehicles, Assault Value = 150

Defending force 384 troops, 0 guns, 71 vehicles, Assault Value = 40

Allied adjusted assault: 39

Japanese adjusted defense: 6

Allied assault odds: 6 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: fatigue(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 61 (24 destroyed, 37 disabled)
Units retreated 1

Allied ground losses:
436 casualties reported
Squads: 34 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
Makassar Garrison Battalion
4th Australian Division
Timor Garrison Battalion
44th Australian Battalion
12th Avn Sup Afd
12th RAAF Base Force

Defending units:
2nd Tank Regiment

I have regained control of all hexsides and can continue my retreat east.

Melbourne - the transport TF is one day out

South Pacific:
Nadi - Forts went to 4 on 9th (nice timing [:)]), 295 AV with an American Inf Rgt and NZ Bde, PBY

Suva - Fort 5 (25%), AF 8, 395 AV based on 40 Div, 4x BF, 2x Air HQs, CD (with 6 guns), 2x AA, 2x FA. 5x B-17 groups (40 planes with NavB around 50), 3x P-39 (75 planes), 1x P-40 (25 planes), 2x SBD (36 planes, but they are -1 & -2 models)

Vava'u - 2x P-40

Pago Pago - 1x B-25 (LowN trained)

Notes:
Response - besides what I mentioned in SoPac section, 2x A-24 Banshee and 1x P-40 from Christmas Island moved to Canton Island (next turn to Pago Pago). 2x Buffalo and 2x SBD-2 from Pearl to Palmyra. 2x SB2U from Australia to NZ. An Army and a Marine Rgt loading at Pearl along with SoPac HQ. 3 Marine Div loading at San Fran on 17 knot transports. All those BFs I just posted have a good idea of where they will be headed. [;)]

To AFB - I like to build a possible air bridge from Pearl to Australia (Johnson, Palmyra, Christmas, Canton and/or Penrhyn, Pago Pago, Suva, NZ or Noumea, Lord Howe Island, Sydney) for situations like this. It may take time, but I have enough air assets that can get to Suva because of this. Some airframes cannot use drop tanks and don't have the range (most distances from base to base is in the low 20s) to use these bases to get from point A to B.

The Brit CVs and 3 American will leave Pearl tomorrow (Enterprise in 3 days). San Fran will see a steady stream of transports loading and headed towards SoPac.

I still expect an invasion in the greater Port Augusta area of southern Australia.

Stay Tuned! [:D]

[1EyedJacks]

I like your idea of an air bridge. Can I ask how many air groups you have on training and if you plan to pull some of those units forward when your air bridge is intact?

[ny59giants]

July 11, 12, 13:
ALL of Japan's CVs show up!!! [:(] [X(]

Key: TT = Torpedo; bb = ground bombardment; c = casualties; b = base hits; s = supply hits; r = runway hits; p = port hits; AV = Assault Value; DC = Depth Charged; (*) = destroyed aircraft;

Subs:
Tarpon gets a single TT hit on an xAK to the south of Java's SE tip (no sinking sounds).

CVs:

Morning Air attack on TF, near Ceduna at 66,161 on 12th

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 33 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 233

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 5

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 8 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Akagi-1 with A6M2 Zero (6 airborne, 14 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 13000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes
Kaga-1 with A6M2 Zero (6 airborne, 14 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 13000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 12 minutes
Soryu-1 with A6M2 Zero (6 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 13000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes
Hiryu-1 with A6M2 Zero (6 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes
Shokaku-1 with A6M2 Zero (6 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 13000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes
Zuikaku-1 with A6M2 Zero (6 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes
Ryujo-1 with A6M2 Zero (7 airborne, 15 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 20 minutes
Junyo-1 with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 9 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 13000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 24 minutes
Shoho-1 with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 9 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes
Zuiho-1 with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 9 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes
Hosho-1 with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 7 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters to 11000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes
Taiyo-1 with A6M2 Zero (8 airborne, 17 on standby, 0 scrambling)
8 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes
Unyo-1 with A6M2 Zero (8 airborne, 17 on standby, 0 scrambling)
8 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes

WOW!! I knew about his plans to invade around Port Augusta for days due to Intel Reports and some transports off Albany and Esperance. I didn't think he would bring EVERYTHING!

Another 6(1) B-17 group and 6(2) LB-30 Liberator attempt to penetrate this massive CAP and get a lucky hit without success.

India/Burma:[>:][>:]

China:
Yenan - Up to 28 Sally hit the AF daily

the daily ground bb attacks continue at 85, 43 (2 hexes due west of Loyang on trail)

Australia:
4th Australian Division, at 60,150 , near Esperance - Up to 38 Sally hit retreating troops on 11th; this division plus other troops move 5 miles daily and she is slowly recovering disruption while three enemy units occupy the same hex;

Bourke - Need to keep AF closed to prevent fighters from being based here
11th - 45 B-26 Marauder hit the AF;
12th - 22 P-40s sweep; 60 B-26 Marauder hit the AF; 22 P-40s sweep;
13th - 22 P-40s sweep; 63 B-26 Marauder hit the AF;

Newcastle -
12th - 34 Oscar with 27(1) Helen hit the AF while my attention is to the west = 2b, 3s, 20r;
13th - 34 Oscar with 25 Helen = Resources hits 2

Roto - on 13th, with my P-40s ONLY sweep of Bourke and none left on CAP, 12 Zero with 27(1) Nell hit the AF = 4b, 3s, 39r; a second strike of 18 Betty hit the AF = 6b, 3s, 26r;

Port Augusta - landings on 13th with elements of 48th Div;

Ground combat at Port Augusta (75,159)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 3747 troops, 96 guns, 103 vehicles, Assault Value = 674

Defending force 9441 troops, 90 guns, 22 vehicles, Assault Value = 280

Japanese ground losses:
277 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled

Assaulting units:
17th MG Battalion
32nd Infantry Division
2/10th Armoured Regiment
632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion
1st Motor Brigade
19th MG Battalion
108th Anti Tank Regiment
168th Field Artillery Battalion
10th RAAF Base Force
3rd US Naval Construction Battalion
RAAF OTU Augusta
11th RAAF Base Force
43rd Construction Regiment
17th RAAF Base Force
4th US Naval Construction Battalion

Defending units:
19th Ind Engineer Regiment
Yokosuka Assault SNLF /3
Yokosuka 4th SNLF /3
48th/A Div /1

Cebuna - landings at empty base;

South Pacific:
My B-17s that were sent to Suva from Sydney return back to Australia and many end up at Adelaide; those old, but long legged SB2U DBs head back to Melbourne from NZ;

Notes:
The Japanese are still able to bring overwhelming force to a particular battle. My B-17s try to get through a massive CAP which doesn't seem realistic.

Instead of worrying too much about a situation that is already over in practical terms, the 5 SB (SeaBees) arriving at Port Hueneme are set to prep for bases in the Gilberts and will use the railroad to San Fran for the trip to Pearl. These are the final pieces for this adventure.

The fast transports that left Pearl with two regiments for the SoPac are recalled. They will unload to be used for the invasion in a couple of weeks.

San Fran - Unlike Jocke, this port is busy with ships repairing and getting their upgrades for numerous transports and tankers. [;)] I have about 150 ships in various state of repairs and upgrades with less than 25 ships to get back to port to get their upgrades for June or July. Most are those that went to Melbourne and have just made the trip back.

[ny59giants]

July 14, 15, 16:
Port Augusta under siege
American DBs get hits!! [:D]

Key: TT = Torpedo; bb = ground bombardment; c = casualties; b = base hits; s = supply hits; r = runway hits; p = port hits; AV = Assault Value; DC = Depth Charged; (*) = destroyed aircraft;

Subs:
S-39 is hit twice by DC at Whyalla

CVs: Japan's CVs remain mainly 7 hexes to west of Port Augusta. He lost one, if not two, CVEs. I have mine at Pearl and Christmas Island.

India/Burma:[>:][>:]

China:
Yenan - Up to 24 Sally hit the AF daily

the daily ground bb attacks continue at 85, 43 (2 hexes due west of Loyang on trail)

Australia:
Port Augusta - landings continue for both days with only FA and AA guns firing at ships;
14th - 68(2) Zero are on LRCAP from his CVs which are kept 7 hexes to the west of the base vs 15(1) P-39s & 6 B-17E Fortress = no hits on transports; the LRCAP is reduced to only 46 Zero vs 6 B-17E that come in the next strike to try to hit BB Haruna embedded in the transports; the third strike of 6 B-17s from Adelaide is able to get through 28(1)Zero still on LRCAP as 5(1) P-39s are still on CAP over the base, BB Kirishima is targeted without success; 6 more B-17s cannot hit any transports; 19 Zero then come in to sweep the base after the raids are over! [:D]
15th - The 3x PT TFs arrive one hex off base during daylight and don't fair well; 3 of 11 are sunk without getting close enough to launch TT; 10 B-17s are unable to hit anything;

Morning Air attack on TF, near Port Augusta at 75,160

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 76

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 4
P-39D Airacobra x 20
P-40E Warhawk x 17
SB2U-3 Vindicator x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged
P-39D Airacobra: 3 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 3 destroyed
SB2U-3 Vindicator: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged
SB2U-3 Vindicator: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
CVE Unyo, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
CVE Taiyo
BB Hyuga

Morning Air attack on TF, near Port Augusta at 75,160

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 57

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 6
P-40E Warhawk x 51
SB2U-3 Vindicator x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
SB2U-3 Vindicator: 6 destroyed, 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
CVE Unyo, heavy fires, heavy damage
CVE Taiyo, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CS Mizuho
DD Asakaze

Ammo storage explosion on CVE Taiyo
Air Losses show 29 Zeros destroyed on the ground, so one of these CVEs was sunk!! [:D]

Ground combat at Port Augusta (75,159)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 15709 troops, 281 guns, 212 vehicles, Assault Value = 673

Defending force 36375 troops, 339 guns, 354 vehicles, Assault Value = 1520

Japanese ground losses:
364 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 34 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Allied ground losses:
37 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
32nd Infantry Division
1st Motor Brigade
2/10th Armoured Regiment
632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion
17th MG Battalion
19th MG Battalion
17th RAAF Base Force
10th RAAF Base Force
11th RAAF Base Force
3rd US Naval Construction Battalion
RAAF OTU Augusta
168th Field Artillery Battalion
108th Anti Tank Regiment
43rd Construction Regiment
4th US Naval Construction Battalion

Defending units:
48th/C Division
4th Guards Division
Yokosuka 4th SNLF
48th/B Division
Yokosuka Assault SNLF
48th/A Division
19th Ind Engineer Regiment
Imperial Guards Division
Guards Tank Div /1
14th JAAF AF Bn /1
8th RF Gun Battalion
302nd Ship Eng Coy
14th Army /1
31st Fld AA Gun Co
30th Fld AA Gun Co
1st Medium FA Rgt /1

Once he is fully unloaded and rested, I will need to withdraw as my lone division is behind only level 3 forts, but close to level 4. Most of the combat troops have low prep levels and will be unable to withstand four division with one being a tank division.

Whyalla - the empty base to the west of Port Augusta is invaded on 14th; falls on 15th

Bourke -
14th - 95 B-25 Mitchell & B-26 Marauder hit the AF;

Kingscote (2 hexes to west of Adelaide)- 1 of 12 PT boats hits mines and sinks while the 3 TFs attempt to get from Adelaide to Port Augusta on 15th.

Broken Hill -
15th -

A6M2 Zero x 21

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter Ic x 16
Hudson I x 26
Kittyhawk IA x 5
A-29 Hudson x 5
B-18A Bolo x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufighter Ic: 4 destroyed
Hudson I: 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
57 casualties

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6

Allied aircraft
Hudson I x 12
Kittyhawk IA x 2
P-39D Airacobra x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Hudson I: 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Allied aircraft
Hudson I x 9
Kittyhawk IA x 3
B-18A Bolo x 11
P-39D Airacobra x 3

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
112 casualties reported

Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 11
Kittyhawk IA x 3
B-26 Marauder x 27
B-26B Marauder x 27
P-39D Airacobra x 2

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
684 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 21 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 87 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Vehicles lost 40 (2 destroyed, 38 disabled)

Ground combat at Broken Hill (80,160)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 26024 troops, 248 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 1218

Defending force 43851 troops, 798 guns, 996 vehicles, Assault Value = 1296

Japanese ground losses:
1376 casualties reported
Squads: 14 destroyed, 82 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 21 (5 destroyed, 16 disabled)

Assaulting units:
4th Tank Regiment
6th Guards Division
16th Guards Regiment
1st Tank Regiment
5th Tank Regiment
3rd Tank Regiment
65th Brigade
10th Tank Regiment
6th Tank Regiment
14th Guards Regiment
15th Guards Regiment
5th Guards Cav Regiment

Defending units:
762nd Tank Battalion
2/5th Armoured Regiment
763rd Tank Battalion
6th Australian Division
2/4th Armoured Regiment
641st Towed Tank Destroyer Battalion
3rd Motor Brigade
Americal Infantry Division
6th Aus Cav Brigade
208th Coast AA Regiment
7th RAAF Base Force
109th Anti Tank Regiment
134th Field Artillery Battalion
204th Coast AA Regiment
30th Base Group
Northern Territory Corps
202nd Coast AA Regiment
2nd US Naval Construction Battalion

Not enough here for him to take the base, but he will send troops from Port Augusta once it falls.

Tamworth -
15th - 34 Oscar with 27 Helen hit AF = 2b, 1s, 13r

South Pacific:
4x TFs with 180 ships are strung out from Melbourne to NZ; he doesn't seem interested in trying to sink them; if I was playing John 3rd, he would have some small SC TF down here trying to sink the fleeing ships from Australia

Central Pacific:
Pearl - fast transports unloaded and awaiting troops from San Fran in the coming weeks.

Christmas Is - The Brit CVs and 3 American CVs will remain here.

Notes:
Air Losses for these two days were 103 for Japan (lots of op losses among his Zeros) vs 50 Allied.

With over six divisions worth of troops between Port Augusta and Broken Hill, he can push me down to Melbourne very easily as there isn't any good terrain to defend in. He would face only three divisions worth.

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

San Fran - Unlike Jocke, this port is busy with ships repairing and getting their upgrades for numerous transports and tankers. [;)] I have about 150 ships in various state of repairs and upgrades with less than 25 ships to get back to port to get their upgrades for June or July. Most are those that went to Melbourne and have just made the trip back.

I was juuuust about to do that! [:D]

[JocMeister]

On a more serious note. I can´t really understand what the heck he is doing in OZ? In a more broad sense he won´t achieve much? He obviously can´t destroy the industry as shown by the inability to start firestorms. How much VPs has he gained on the stratbombing?

By exploiting the knowledge of the "reinforcement line" he has clearly shown he is not trying to capture OZ in its whole. I just can´t see what good this does to him unless he has gained more VPs than he has lost?

[ny59giants]

Even if he doesn't get all of Australia, why isn't he pushing me back into Melbourne and Sydney?? He has some VP from strategic bombing, but not that much. After he captures both Port Augusta and Broken Hill, then what?? IMO, he is not smart in leaving me that large of a bridgehead to operate out of in the future.