RIDERS ON THE STORM-THANK YOU

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/13/42
 
A bad day.
Our Fast trasport TF, whose task was to unload some more marines at Ponape, found its fate.
Not less than 4 mines (how many damned mines has he brought to Ponape!??!?!) struck an APD with the result that when the day arrived the TF was still to be unloaded...Hordes of Betties and Nells came from Truk, sinking the hell out of 4 ships...[:o]
The KB still lingers NW of Ponape. I've spotted a TF with at least 2 BBs in it...maybe the Yamato...i'm pretty sure his "surprise" is to Nuke Eniwetok with his BBs... now i have to decide what to do.
At Eniwetok i have 10 PTs, divided in 2 different TFs, with the best aggressive leaders i could find. Then i have 2 surface TF, composed each of 15 ships (some 7 CAs, 10 CLs - 5 of the brooklin class, and the rest DDs)...i've selected the best leaders i could, even the best captains for the single ships, but i doubt they can do anything if opposed to the Yamato and her friends in a night engagement...
so, what to do? At Eniwetok i'm planning to leave, if i see him coming, only fighters, dive bombers and torpedo bombers. The 4Es will be moved back to the Marshalls for few days.
The point is that at Truk there are something like 30 TFs...i'm pretty sure he's planning to nuke Eniwetok, and at the same time, under the umbrella of the KB, reconquer Ponape with a massive landing.
Now i face an important decision. Stay and risk at Eniwetok, hoping that a mine, a PT or simply a bad dice and roll may slow down his bombardment run and give to my LBA the chance of hurting him when the day arrives (so risking 30 surface ships, hundreds of planes and the superiority over Eniwetok area) or move back every asset to the Marshalls, thus leaving the marines at Ponape alone with their cruel destiny?
Hard choice to make....
 
In China the struggle goes on as always.
I won't ask him not to para-drop over Chungking.
I've already asked him not to para-drop over non-base hex and he found out another way to stop my advances remaining into the HR limits...So i'll simply go on and swallow this new trick.....every day i'm learning something new about the mechanics of this game[:)]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1024 encounters mine field at Ponape (73,80)

Allied Ships
DMS Chandler
DMS Southard
APD McKean, Mine hits 4,  on fire,  heavy damage[:@]
APD Little
APD Colhoun


Allied ground losses:
114 casualties reported
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kwajalein , at 81,84

Every now and then i keep my boys trained and Kwalajein suppressed
 

Allied aircraft
OS2U-3 Kingfisher x 5
B-25C Mitchell x 57
B-26B Marauder x 45


Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
132 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 59
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Ponape at 73,80
 
...damned mines...[:@]
 
Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 15
G4M1 Betty x 22

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 4 damaged

Allied Ships
DMS Southard
APD Little, Torpedo hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
APD McKean,  on fire,  heavy damage
DMS Chandler, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire


Allied ground losses:
107 casualties reported
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Ponape at 73,80

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 3
G4M1 Betty x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
APD McKean,  on fire,  heavy damage
APD Colhoun, Torpedo hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage


Allied ground losses:
63 casualties reported
 


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Chungking

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 47 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2[>:]

Defending force 81747 troops, 541 guns, 8 vehicles, Assault Value = 1471

Japanese max assault: 2 - adjusted assault: 0

Allied max defense: 1525 - adjusted defense: 5077

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 8)


Japanese ground losses:
17 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

[Gen.Hoepner]

ORIGINAL: Yakface

No reflection on you GH, but I lost interest in this game some time ago because of all the loop hole exploiting that was going on.  Thought I'd come and have a look how things are now.

No change I see. No, wait.........I tell a lie. It's even worse.

No problem Yakface. I understand. Thanks anyway for coming and reading.
Feel free to come back here whenever you want. i hope we can show you something better somewhen in the future

[Roger Neilson II]

Well I do keep coming back and reading, as much as anything to see the smile wiped off your opponent's face one day.

Actually I'm not sure that the word opponent is applicable...

Roger

[Gen.Hoepner]

ORIGINAL: apbarog

Continued good luck in this game.

Thanks apbarog! Hope you'll keep on enjoy the reading!

[Rainerle]

Can you LRCAP the paradrop hexes to shoot down some transport planes?

[Gen.Hoepner]

ORIGINAL: Fishbed

Well, it'd be nice to turn Truk into a useless pit before those units come back from continental duty.

He can have as many troops as he wants. The point with PDU on is to bomb the crap out of him before he gets anything better than oscars in the air. In the Pacific, I just can't see where he can expect to use all those units offensively efficiently, now that even the KB is somewhat pushed to its limits.

He can go as far as he wants in the west. This doesn't make the road from PH to Tokyo Bay any longer for you, and this what matters most in my view [;)]

Fishbed...if he has done some R&R...and i'm sure he's done it, i'll be facing hordes of Tonies/Tojos very very soon...
My advance in the pacific will be a struggle...we'll have to patient...i bet my first raids over Truk will be bloody...

Anyway, the second front is slowly taking shape.
Noumea finally has begin to operate as a base. The Americal Division is already in place. As soon as the 32nd arrives the Americal will be moved to PM. It will take some time, but it can be done

[Gen.Hoepner]

ORIGINAL: Rainerle

Can you LRCAP the paradrop hexes to shoot down some transport planes?

No, he keep on sending hordes of bombers heavily escorted by zeros every single day on Chungking...and i don't have any operative fighter in China...they've all been destroyed and now the empty air groups are waiting their fate at Chungking...[:(]
However it doesn't change much...even if i could...1 single man paradropped over chungking is enough to stop any advance

[Jim D Burns]

ORIGINAL: Gen.Hoepner
so, what to do? (so risking 30 surface ships, hundreds of planes and the superiority over Eniwetok area)

Hi G.H.,

Get the hell out of there with your surface ships. They don’t stand a chance and even if they do well, at most they’ll just sink some of his DD’s. That’s a lot of valuable surface ships you’re going to lose that your CV’s will need later to boost their task forces AAA value with, for no real long term gain. He’ll slam the base with multiple naval bombardments and follow it up with a KB raid in the daytime, whatever you have afloat there is dead in the water, so get outta there.

Leave the PT’s behind in 2 or 3 ship task forces (I’ve never seen more than 3 engage before, so extra PT’s get sunk for no benefit) to give you a good chance of getting one of the small task forces to surprise the bombardment forces.

Eniwetok is alone and isolated, he can and will take it if he wants it no matter what you have there or what you do right now. You’re still a year or more away from being able to stand toe to toe with the full might of the Imperial Navy. Don’t make the mistake of losing tons of ships you need for later, they can’t possibly affect the outcome at Eniwetok given what they are facing.

If I were you I’d hasten the fall of Kwajalein ASAP, before he gets into a position to be able to relieve it. Get that base down now while you can and let the desire to hang onto Eniwetok go. You can’t save it without supporting land bases within range, you’ve simply run out of time there I think, now that the full might of the Japanese Navy has arrived on scene.

Jim

[Gen.Hoepner]

ORIGINAL: Jim D Burns

ORIGINAL: Gen.Hoepner
so, what to do? (so risking 30 surface ships, hundreds of planes and the superiority over Eniwetok area)

Hi G.H.,

Get the hell out of there with your surface ships. They don’t stand a chance and even if they do well, at most they’ll just sink some of his DD’s. That’s a lot of valuable surface ships you’re going to lose that your CV’s will need later to boost their task forces AAA value with, for no real long term gain. He’ll slam the base with multiple naval bombardments and follow it up with a KB raid in the daytime, whatever you have afloat there is dead in the water, so get outta there.

Leave the PT’s behind in 2 or 3 ship task forces (I’ve never seen more than 3 engage before, so extra PT’s get sunk for no benefit) to give you a good chance of getting one of the small task forces to surprise the bombardment forces.

Eniwetok is alone and isolated, he can and will take it if he wants it no matter what you have there or what you do right now. You’re still a year or more away from being able to stand toe to toe with the full might of the Imperial Navy. Don’t make the mistake of losing tons of ships you need for later, they can’t possibly affect the outcome at Eniwetok given what they are facing.

If I were you I’d hasten the fall of Kwajalein ASAP, before he gets into a position to be able to relieve it. Get that base down now while you can and let the desire to hang onto Eniwetok go. You can’t save it without supporting land bases within range, you’ve simply run out of time there I think, now that the full might of the Japanese Navy has arrived on scene.

Jim

Hi Jim.
Eniwetok Cannot be conquered. I'm pretty sure he doesn't have any division at Truk by now. And even if he had, he'll get slaughter if he'd land there.
I see your point about the surface assets. I know what you mean. but it's absolutely depressing not to even try to defend my ports...and also completely unhistorical...
My air assets are still fairly powerfull...the KB has already been hurt twice in this war and now i've learnt the lesson on how not to throw away my air units.
However...you're right[:(]...i have to get out with my ships...[:o] always running away...it's depressing

[Jim D Burns]

ORIGINAL: Gen.Hoepner
always running away...it's depressing

Your time will come. But it will come a lot sooner rather than later if you don't throw everything away on hopeless last stands early in the game. [;)]

In the mean time, rope a dope works wonders. Get him to chase you around all the time and he’ll eventually drop his guard, that’s when you land the left hook.

Jim

[Gen.Hoepner]

For what concerns Kwalajein...it will be a suicide to land there Jim...i don't have any division prepped for Kwalajein, but anyway i'd need a whole army to get rid of 40.000 Japanese!!! Jim...11 units, 42,320 men spotted, 400 guns...no way i'm going to impale my men there! Kwalajein should be almost out of supply by now. i've bombed it for months now. However i won't attack directly.

[ny59giants]

Yes GH, you are playing a game that involves a lot of psych warfare (I'm a professional counselor, so I'm pretty good about it) on the part of your opponent. He uses those para drops and other game mechanic loopholes to try to get you to do something extremely stupid out of frustration. He has sent KB with Zeros replacing his Vals to try to get you to respond. Thankfully, you fell for that only once. [;)]
 
Now that KB is out in force, he will try to use that and his more modern BBs to get you to attack (or as Jin B has said, not retreat when that is the best option long term). It is hard for an Allied player to be patient through most of '42. Be mentally prepared to lose all of your gains in the Marshalls. The only saving factor for you is the low amount of Political Points in CHS. With the fall of Luzon, finally, he will probably use them to take back these islands.
 
KUDOS!! [&o]

[Gen.Hoepner]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Yes GH, you are playing a game that involves a lot of psych warfare (I'm a professional counselor, so I'm pretty good about it) on the part of your opponent. He uses those para drops and other game mechanic loopholes to try to get you to do something extremely stupid out of frustration. He has sent KB with Zeros replacing his Vals to try to get you to respond. Thankfully, you fell for that only once. [;)]

Now that KB is out in force, he will try to use that and his more modern BBs to get you to attack (or as Jin B has said, not retreat when that is the best option long term). It is hard for an Allied player to be patient through most of '42. Be mentally prepared to lose all of your gains in the Marshalls. The only saving factor for you is the low amount of Political Points in CHS. With the fall of Luzon, finally, he will probably use them to take back these islands.

KUDOS!! [&o]

Take-Back the Marshalls? It will be a enormous task, even for the mighty Japan. I have at least 600 AVs in every island there, with arty, AA, CD guns and such...forts...it will be a slaughter if he tries to land there!
If i was him i'd place all those divisions everywhere in the pacific, so to stop every single future advance of mine...
Ok, i'll retreat my assets from Eniwetok. Will leave there only few AKs and the PTs. The bulk of my air force will move back to Wake and to the Marshalls. At Eniwetok will remain only 32 beauforts, 30 Avengers, 30 Vindicators, some 50 SDBs, 24 P.38Fs, 48 Wildcats and 100 P-40Es, plus the catalinas and the Conrados. The 4Es and the Hudsons will be moved back to Maloelap.
I'll have to face the fall of Ponape...i'll try to reinforce as much as i can in the next days with my Dakotas...but i doubt it will be enough considering that the base is still ruined, so no forts can be built...

[String]

I also assume you're gonna pack the area with submarines, move 2-3 atleast into eniwetok hex, and the rest into the approaches. Do you have any torp armed CL's in the area? An omahaha class perhaps?

You should have surplus destroyers so losing a CL and 4 dessies for a chance of torpedoes in the japanese ships and the reduction of the bombardment efficiency will be worth it in my opinion. Ofcourse if you can't afford to lose those assets then don't. Also divide some of your AK's into single ship TF's. That will deplete his ammo even further.

[Jim D Burns]

ORIGINAL: Gen.Hoepner
Take-Back the Marshalls? It will be a enormous task, even for the mighty Japan.

I agree, but he has to try. No way can Japan survive until 1945 with the US in full control of the Marshall Islands starting in 1942. If he allows that, then that means the first counter-attacks of 1943 will be going after the inner perimeter bases. You’ll be hitting the Philippines before 1943 is over and B-29’s will reduce Japan to ashes by the end of 1944 if he allows that to happen. He either has to sink all your starting carriers or he has to take back or nullify the Marshalls, he has no choice.

By nullify I mean prevent you from using them as a staging point to launch invasions towards the Marianas. The only way he can do that long term is to grab some bases within land based air range of all the Marshall Islands and keep your supply ships out via sinking them with his Betty’s.

This is very hard to achieve if not impossible as your strength is going to grow from here on out. But he knows this, so he also knows the longer he waits to try and take them back the harder it will become. So expect an attack soon.

Now I tend to agree it will be very hard for him to take the Islands east and southeast of Kwajalein because they can support each other, but Eniwetok is isolated and he can easily keep it that way by keeping KB at Truk until Ponape can support medium bombers.

After that he’ll do to Eniwetok what you’ve done to Kwajalein and eventually he’ll bring the Luzon force over and dump it on the island. Unlike Japan, allied units surrender easily when out of supply, so I doubt you can hold it long term.

But it will be a very long campaign for him to reduce it, so don’t just leave. Make sure you’ve got fragments of the units there in the west coast so you can eventually rebuild them after they get destroyed. Then get as much supply into the island as you can if you get another chance to run a supply convoy or two.

If he allows you to get a level 3 airfield up and running at Bikini, then you may well be able to keep Eniwetok indefinitely, as you can then begin a transport aircraft chain to fly supplies from the eastern islands through Bikini on to Eniwetok. If you can manage to put that operation together then you will be able to hold it indefinitely I think. Assuming he doesn’t bring his 25,000 AV there next after China of course.

Jim

[witpqs]

I don't fully understand - are you pulling your 4E bombers out of Eniwetok?

If you can get the airfield at Ponape up and running, you just might do some damage - you make the whole deal a harder slog for him. Attack bombers on Bikini is a must to reinforce Eniwetok.

I think it would be a big mistake to break your ground strength on Kwajalein. Just keep training aircraft there. Send bombers as high as they can go to avoid the flak - who cares about the damage they do? Just get experience for them.

[ny59giants]

The reason I said the Marshalls was he is heavily engaged in India and China. He has not made a move towards northern Oz, SE New Guinea, or the Solomons. Thus, that was the only logical place left to attack.
 
I would feel more confident in my assessment if, and when, he launches sub or para attacks on some of your bases to find out how strong you are. [:D]

[Gen.Hoepner]

ORIGINAL: String

I also assume you're gonna pack the area with submarines, move 2-3 atleast into eniwetok hex, and the rest into the approaches. Do you have any torp armed CL's in the area? An omahaha class perhaps?

You should have surplus destroyers so losing a CL and 4 dessies for a chance of torpedoes in the japanese ships and the reduction of the bombardment efficiency will be worth it in my opinion. Ofcourse if you can't afford to lose those assets then don't. Also divide some of your AK's into single ship TF's. That will deplete his ammo even further.

Yes, more than 20 subs are guarding the approaches at Ponape and Eniwetok and 4 subs are stationing at Eniwetok.

That was my original Idea String, to use some of the older CLs armed with torpedoes in the last attempt of defending my base. Problem is that i checked their exp ratings...at night they suck, litterally[:(]...however i may give 'em a try
The single AK tactic has been banned by our HRs due to his complaining about it during the Indian campaign...

[Gen.Hoepner]

ORIGINAL: Jim D Burns

ORIGINAL: Gen.Hoepner
Take-Back the Marshalls? It will be a enormous task, even for the mighty Japan.

I agree, but he has to try. No way can Japan survive until 1945 with the US in full control of the Marshall Islands starting in 1942. If he allows that, then that means the first counter-attacks of 1943 will be going after the inner perimeter bases. You’ll be hitting the Philippines before 1943 is over and B-29’s will reduce Japan to ashes by the end of 1944 if he allows that to happen. He either has to sink all your starting carriers or he has to take back or nullify the Marshalls, he has no choice.

By nullify I mean prevent you from using them as a staging point to launch invasions towards the Marianas. The only way he can do that long term is to grab some bases within land based air range of all the Marshall Islands and keep your supply ships out via sinking them with his Betty’s.

This is very hard to achieve if not impossible as your strength is going to grow from here on out. But he knows this, so he also knows the longer he waits to try and take them back the harder it will become. So expect an attack soon.

Now I tend to agree it will be very hard for him to take the Islands east and southeast of Kwajalein because they can support each other, but Eniwetok is isolated and he can easily keep it that way by keeping KB at Truk until Ponape can support medium bombers.

After that he’ll do to Eniwetok what you’ve done to Kwajalein and eventually he’ll bring the Luzon force over and dump it on the island. Unlike Japan, allied units surrender easily when out of supply, so I doubt you can hold it long term.

But it will be a very long campaign for him to reduce it, so don’t just leave. Make sure you’ve got fragments of the units there in the west coast so you can eventually rebuild them after they get destroyed. Then get as much supply into the island as you can if you get another chance to run a supply convoy or two.

If he allows you to get a level 3 airfield up and running at Bikini, then you may well be able to keep Eniwetok indefinitely, as you can then begin a transport aircraft chain to fly supplies from the eastern islands through Bikini on to Eniwetok. If you can manage to put that operation together then you will be able to hold it indefinitely I think. Assuming he doesn’t bring his 25,000 AV there next after China of course.

Jim

Well Jim...it will be interesting if he tries. I feel rather confident in the Marshalls with all those mutal supporting AFs, full of forts, supplies and men.
Eniwetok doesn't risk to be invaded in the nearby future imho. He can suppress it, as u pointed out, but for how long? He needs the KB fully operating there for un unlimited time to keep Eniwetok closed...i don't think he can efford that. Eniwetok has 70,000 supplies right now, but more 100,000 are enroute from PH and Maloelap...
I'm starting a mining campaign using Wake as a starting base (MLE just arrived), in order to make him pay every moves he makes here (well..not that my mines are really effective...at Karachi i've been laying sub mines for ages now and not a single hit has occurred to his daily bombing runs with CAs and BBs...)

However guys...if he attacks...that's what i was looking for anyway...attrition...so i will get what i was looking for i think... I need some luck here...a good dice and roll..

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/14/42

Just the combat report guys cause i'm at work.
The KB keeps on lingering moving up and down 3/5 hexes north of Ponape...while at Truk a HUGE mass of TFs are assembling...
KB still interdics my Dakotas with LRCAP over Ponape...3 of them are shot down while trying to deliver more marines and supplies there... Those brave marines know they're facing a certain death...their task is to force Japan to maximise its losses...what a sad fate for those iron guys...
Anyway, Eniwetok's harbour has been emptied, a part from few aux ships and the PTs.

In China another shock attack of his Armoured corp...and guess what? para drops over Chungking and Chengtu forced the retreating army to move towards Kumming, while preventing the Army south of Chungking of moving[:o][:-][:-]...better not even to look anymore at China...it just drives me mad.

Finally also the Canadian decided to partecipate to this war. The first canadian air wings arrived at Wake Island.32 Kittihakws and 16 hurricanes...nothing special but i desperately need aircrafts with a decent pool!!! 3 More Canadian Catalinas squadrons are arriving to PH within the next week...

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


Allied aircraft
OS2U-3 Kingfisher x 4
B-25C Mitchell x 63
B-26B Marauder x 46


Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 1 damaged
B-26B Marauder: 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
33 casualties reported

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 95

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 41,32 *Jap Tank Army*

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 31716 troops, 18 guns, 874 vehicles, Assault Value = 885

Defending force 34828 troops, 124 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 810

Japanese max assault: 1510 - adjusted assault: 951

Allied max defense: 616 - adjusted defense: 109

Japanese assault odds: 8 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
668 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
Vehicles lost 40

Allied ground losses:
3170 casualties reported
Guns lost 29
Vehicles lost 2


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!...towards Kumming[:@]





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Chungking *para drop*

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 47 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2

Defending force 83769 troops, 549 guns, 8 vehicles, Assault Value = 1537

Japanese max assault: 2 - adjusted assault: 0

Allied max defense: 1614 - adjusted defense: 5177

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 8)


Japanese ground losses:
15 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Chengtu *para drop*

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 139 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 6

Defending force 12208 troops, 71 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 322

Japanese max assault: 8 - adjusted assault: 0

Allied max defense: 350 - adjusted defense: 383

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 4)


Japanese ground losses:
46 casualties reported
Guns lost 1