Forlorn Hopes: The Japanese Respond
Moderators: wdolson, Don Bowen, mogami
RE: More Items of Interest
With Malaysia falling, he wouldn't be able to make India before getting obliterated by air. Counterattack at Wake perhaps?
Never Underestimate the Power of a Small Tactical Nuclear Weapon...
Optimism
Welcome Guys.
Darn but you are optimistic! I really like the idea of counter-landing at Wake. Problem would be moving troops. I could easily put 3 Inf Divisions together from my Marianas Line and move them to Wake. Supply would be an issue. I could strip all the Marianas and Marcus for about 60,000 supply.
I will think on the proposal some. The vast majority of the Pacific Fleet CVs are now at or around Iwo Jima.
Can you believe that Dan has moved the British CVs to Noumea??!! He could use them to dangerous effect from Darwin. They carry those damned Corsairs and he could really pierce the Amboina--Timor--Bali Line. Those units are wasted in the SE Pacific. Mind you I am not heavily complaining for them to be there mind you...
Darn but you are optimistic! I really like the idea of counter-landing at Wake. Problem would be moving troops. I could easily put 3 Inf Divisions together from my Marianas Line and move them to Wake. Supply would be an issue. I could strip all the Marianas and Marcus for about 60,000 supply.
I will think on the proposal some. The vast majority of the Pacific Fleet CVs are now at or around Iwo Jima.
Can you believe that Dan has moved the British CVs to Noumea??!! He could use them to dangerous effect from Darwin. They carry those damned Corsairs and he could really pierce the Amboina--Timor--Bali Line. Those units are wasted in the SE Pacific. Mind you I am not heavily complaining for them to be there mind you...
Member: Treaty, Reluctant Admiral and Between the Storms Mod Team.
RE: Optimism
I am going to have a massive update to do for the July 15th turn! Heavy fighting in China, Gumma attacked again, heavy SS action! I haev a page of notes to transcribe and wil do so when I get back from my Group Session tonight.
Have to note that I now have 4 Sentai and 2 Chutai of Franks almost ready to deploy. Should upgrade another Sentai tomorrow. Really want to make one heck of an impression when they arrive for the party!
Have to note that I now have 4 Sentai and 2 Chutai of Franks almost ready to deploy. Should upgrade another Sentai tomorrow. Really want to make one heck of an impression when they arrive for the party!
Member: Treaty, Reluctant Admiral and Between the Storms Mod Team.
Battle Over Gumma: Round Five
July 15, 1944
Gumma, Japan
It has been 20 days since the Americans have raided this valuable target. The new radar sets that have been added to all Base Forces pick-up the impending triple strike. It is the 'normal' attack of P-38 and 4EB from Iwo Jima, a 4EB attack from Sakhalin, and then the high-altitude strike of B-29 from Sakhalin. It certainly appears that nearly 2/3 of the 4EB that were stationed on Iwo Jima have now been replaced by P-38. This has good and bad results for Japan. There are marginally less 4EB hitting Japan but anything flying from Iwo comes with a BUNCH of P-38. That is the case with today's attacks:
Regardless of the composition of the enemy, the pilots climb into their Fighters and take to the sky. With the continous rotation of Fighter Daitai and Sentai the American never really know what they will find flying over Gumma. Today it is a Navy show: 64 George, 34 Jack, and 15 Zero are flying. many Army Fighters have been pulled back to Osaka or Mukden to upgrade to Franks.
Attack One
From Iwo Jima comes 65 P-38 and 24 Liberators. They are furiously set upon by the Japanese Fighters. American pilot skill has fallen off of late and so the dogfights have a great amount of give-and-take. The Japanese defense manages to shot down 32 P-38 in exchange for 43 of their own. As is getting to be the norm, only about half of the Japanese planes shot down actually kill the pilot. The B-24s break as their Escorts are schredded. None drop their bombs.
Attack Two
An hour later 66 Fighters rise to face the challenge of 7 Fighters and 147 4EB winging their way in. The fighters are easily brushed aside and the Sons of Nippon slice into the bombers. Nearly 20 of the big bombers fall with twice that number damaged. The rest drop their loads predominently on the AF causing over 1,100 casualties and putting 33 holes in the airfrields. The Jack plant gets hit by 12 bombs taking slight damage.
Attack Three
The final attack comes with 125 B-29 cruising at 33,000 Ft. They also face 66 angry Fighters who can all reach their altitude. While only 4 B-29 are shot down (for no loss) nearly 1/3 of the large bombers is damaged. Only 70 actually drop their bombs scoring 24 hits on several different plants.
Totals
The Japanese lose 58 Fighters (15 of these are on the ground with 18 pilots lost) in exchange for 32 P-38, 20 Liberators, and 4 B-29. There are 36 Factory hits from the combined strikes. The AF take slight damage.
The Judges have to conclude that Round Five is a draw between sides. The Japanese are now 2-1-2 in the Battle of the Skies of Gumma.
It should be noted that the next American attack will have to deal with someone named FRANK. We have very high hopes...
Gumma, Japan
It has been 20 days since the Americans have raided this valuable target. The new radar sets that have been added to all Base Forces pick-up the impending triple strike. It is the 'normal' attack of P-38 and 4EB from Iwo Jima, a 4EB attack from Sakhalin, and then the high-altitude strike of B-29 from Sakhalin. It certainly appears that nearly 2/3 of the 4EB that were stationed on Iwo Jima have now been replaced by P-38. This has good and bad results for Japan. There are marginally less 4EB hitting Japan but anything flying from Iwo comes with a BUNCH of P-38. That is the case with today's attacks:
Regardless of the composition of the enemy, the pilots climb into their Fighters and take to the sky. With the continous rotation of Fighter Daitai and Sentai the American never really know what they will find flying over Gumma. Today it is a Navy show: 64 George, 34 Jack, and 15 Zero are flying. many Army Fighters have been pulled back to Osaka or Mukden to upgrade to Franks.
Attack One
From Iwo Jima comes 65 P-38 and 24 Liberators. They are furiously set upon by the Japanese Fighters. American pilot skill has fallen off of late and so the dogfights have a great amount of give-and-take. The Japanese defense manages to shot down 32 P-38 in exchange for 43 of their own. As is getting to be the norm, only about half of the Japanese planes shot down actually kill the pilot. The B-24s break as their Escorts are schredded. None drop their bombs.
Attack Two
An hour later 66 Fighters rise to face the challenge of 7 Fighters and 147 4EB winging their way in. The fighters are easily brushed aside and the Sons of Nippon slice into the bombers. Nearly 20 of the big bombers fall with twice that number damaged. The rest drop their loads predominently on the AF causing over 1,100 casualties and putting 33 holes in the airfrields. The Jack plant gets hit by 12 bombs taking slight damage.
Attack Three
The final attack comes with 125 B-29 cruising at 33,000 Ft. They also face 66 angry Fighters who can all reach their altitude. While only 4 B-29 are shot down (for no loss) nearly 1/3 of the large bombers is damaged. Only 70 actually drop their bombs scoring 24 hits on several different plants.
Totals
The Japanese lose 58 Fighters (15 of these are on the ground with 18 pilots lost) in exchange for 32 P-38, 20 Liberators, and 4 B-29. There are 36 Factory hits from the combined strikes. The AF take slight damage.
The Judges have to conclude that Round Five is a draw between sides. The Japanese are now 2-1-2 in the Battle of the Skies of Gumma.
It should be noted that the next American attack will have to deal with someone named FRANK. We have very high hopes...
Member: Treaty, Reluctant Admiral and Between the Storms Mod Team.
RE: Battle Over Gumma: Round Five
Good luck... As usual for the post mid43 jap player, you have to make sure that when you face up to the allies' airforce you have at least great amount of planes to do so.. Better not confronting a strike thanc confronting it with 40 odd figthers... you need to either have 100 or not fight and nurse your forces... Above Japan with great efforts you should be able to withstand their pressure for a while, but in other areas you need to prepare for a fast worsening situation... Are you ready to face hordes of bombers from Indochina and China ?
Adieu Ô Dieu odieux... signé Adam
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ny59giants
- Posts: 9888
- Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 12:02 pm
Raining on John's Parade
It should be noted that the next American attack will have to deal with someone named FRANK. We have very high hopes...
I "hate" to rain on John's celebration, but just wanted to throw out how short his time to celebrate will be. Here comes the rain.... [:D][:D]
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[/center]RE: Raining on John's Parade
by december he won't be able to really defend the home islands anyway... But he might buy himself a respite till then, this is still something...
Adieu Ô Dieu odieux... signé Adam
Raining on John's Parade
Trust Michael to be a font of optimism and positive waves! Considering my delicate emotional state...
I simply hope to hang-on until the advent of 1945.
The reality is that the war should have been over directly after Iwo JIma fell in August 1943. A swift move to Formosa or Okinawa would have cut me from the DEI and the game would have been done. The fact that that didn't happen is wonderful! Those locations were almost totally undefended at the time.
I AM FACING MILLIONS of Bombers in Malaya, Sumatra, China. Australia, etc... In my combat reports I do not comment on the 'normal' raids being staged against my forces. There are easily 500 4EB from Rangoon going south that are pounding my forces everyday. Add about 200 2EB and you get the idea.
Operation Harusame has led to a major shifting of Allied fighter assets though. There must be 3-4 times the amount of fighters stationed there now as compared to a month ago. I have a total of 6 Sentai of Frank now training up and converting in Mukden. Harusame has at least given me a chance to re-stock Japan with about 10-12 Sentai of Fighters (they will be all Franks) with pilots in the experience range of 60-70. Once these Sentai deploy then I will pull an equal number out of Japan to China so they can train up a decent level. We'll see if the rotation actually works...
In an effort to keep the Allies honest, I am staging an ambush over Palembang this turn (July 17th). I had withdrawn most of my Fighters from there but moved in two Daitai of Zekes and two Sentai of Tojo (126 planes) to see if I can get lucky with a B-29 raid! Hmmmm...we'll see...
I have two massive convoys sailing for Japan right now:
Convoy 1: 125,000 Oil and 75,000 Resources
Convoy 2: 275,000 Oil and 100,000 Resources
Convoy 1 left from Tarakan for Sasebo and Convoy 2 is traveling from Jesselton to Nagasaki. These should really provide a shot in the arm for my economy.
I simply hope to hang-on until the advent of 1945.
The reality is that the war should have been over directly after Iwo JIma fell in August 1943. A swift move to Formosa or Okinawa would have cut me from the DEI and the game would have been done. The fact that that didn't happen is wonderful! Those locations were almost totally undefended at the time.
I AM FACING MILLIONS of Bombers in Malaya, Sumatra, China. Australia, etc... In my combat reports I do not comment on the 'normal' raids being staged against my forces. There are easily 500 4EB from Rangoon going south that are pounding my forces everyday. Add about 200 2EB and you get the idea.
Operation Harusame has led to a major shifting of Allied fighter assets though. There must be 3-4 times the amount of fighters stationed there now as compared to a month ago. I have a total of 6 Sentai of Frank now training up and converting in Mukden. Harusame has at least given me a chance to re-stock Japan with about 10-12 Sentai of Fighters (they will be all Franks) with pilots in the experience range of 60-70. Once these Sentai deploy then I will pull an equal number out of Japan to China so they can train up a decent level. We'll see if the rotation actually works...
In an effort to keep the Allies honest, I am staging an ambush over Palembang this turn (July 17th). I had withdrawn most of my Fighters from there but moved in two Daitai of Zekes and two Sentai of Tojo (126 planes) to see if I can get lucky with a B-29 raid! Hmmmm...we'll see...
I have two massive convoys sailing for Japan right now:
Convoy 1: 125,000 Oil and 75,000 Resources
Convoy 2: 275,000 Oil and 100,000 Resources
Convoy 1 left from Tarakan for Sasebo and Convoy 2 is traveling from Jesselton to Nagasaki. These should really provide a shot in the arm for my economy.
Member: Treaty, Reluctant Admiral and Between the Storms Mod Team.
KB Notes
On a more interesting subject, the last of my CVs upgraded yesterday (July 16th). All I have to do is wait for them to repair at Soerabaja and then be ready to move. I had almost 50 ships needing upgrades and the entire Fleet is now current. For many ships this was their final upgrade of the war. I've noticed that nearly all the Japanese CV have an AA of 1,100-1,200 now. Man--that is really different from earlier in the war. IT won't do much but at least it is progress.
My CAs and CLs that were damaged over the last 2-3 months are all in either Cebu or Manila getting repairs. I have 150 Fighters flying CAP over Manila and Cebu has never, EVER been remotely touched since I took it back in 1942. Manila's Repair Yard is at 60 and Cebu's is 48.
I still have my 1 CVL and 4 CVE at Lunga disbanded with 10 DD. Dan has moved enough shipping into the Noumea region to be wary of trying anything. ALL the Brit CVs are present! CRAZY!!! The damage they could do to me from NW Australia is frightening. They can stay down in SE Pac for as long as they want.
There are a decent number of Japanese SS deployed between New Zealand and Noumea trying to pick-off shipping.
Within a month I will have a serious Fleet reinforcement occur with a new CV, CVL, CL, and 7 DD.
I think that about covers the state of the Fleet.
My CAs and CLs that were damaged over the last 2-3 months are all in either Cebu or Manila getting repairs. I have 150 Fighters flying CAP over Manila and Cebu has never, EVER been remotely touched since I took it back in 1942. Manila's Repair Yard is at 60 and Cebu's is 48.
I still have my 1 CVL and 4 CVE at Lunga disbanded with 10 DD. Dan has moved enough shipping into the Noumea region to be wary of trying anything. ALL the Brit CVs are present! CRAZY!!! The damage they could do to me from NW Australia is frightening. They can stay down in SE Pac for as long as they want.
There are a decent number of Japanese SS deployed between New Zealand and Noumea trying to pick-off shipping.
Within a month I will have a serious Fleet reinforcement occur with a new CV, CVL, CL, and 7 DD.
I think that about covers the state of the Fleet.
Member: Treaty, Reluctant Admiral and Between the Storms Mod Team.
RE: KB Notes
The current Malaya map:
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Member: Treaty, Reluctant Admiral and Between the Storms Mod Team.
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ny59giants
- Posts: 9888
- Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 12:02 pm
RE: KB Notes
Try running in 2 ship TF of TKs and AKs to Palembang to load Oil and Resources, respectively. He may ignore them for some time.
Also, try sending in your TK/AK to the base at the southern tip of Sumatra to load Oil and Resources. It may require daily micro-management to pull them from Palembang to load up (hitting the load Oil or Resource button on the TF screen each day). The AI should move them if it feels there is a need there and Dan may not look at that base too closely.
Also, try sending in your TK/AK to the base at the southern tip of Sumatra to load Oil and Resources. It may require daily micro-management to pull them from Palembang to load up (hitting the load Oil or Resource button on the TF screen each day). The AI should move them if it feels there is a need there and Dan may not look at that base too closely.
Considering my delicate emotional state...
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[/center]RE: KB Notes
ORIGINAL: ny59giants
Try running in 2 ship TF of TKs and AKs to Palembang to load Oil and Resources, respectively. He may ignore them for some time.
Also, try sending in your TK/AK to the base at the southern tip of Sumatra to load Oil and Resources. It may require daily micro-management to pull them from Palembang to load up (hitting the load Oil or Resource button on the TF screen each day). The AI should move them if it feels there is a need there and Dan may not look at that base too closely.
Considering my delicate emotional state...
[:D]
Member: Treaty, Reluctant Admiral and Between the Storms Mod Team.
Debutante Moment---Mister FRANK
Wasn't planned but nice to see!
BANZAI!
BANZAI!
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Member: Treaty, Reluctant Admiral and Between the Storms Mod Team.
Debutante Moment---Mister FRANK
The Allies strike again at Palembang with a serious Japanese aerial victory being scored this day!
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Member: Treaty, Reluctant Admiral and Between the Storms Mod Team.
The Battle of Japan
Today marks the first serious day at reclaiming the skies over Japan!
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Member: Treaty, Reluctant Admiral and Between the Storms Mod Team.
RE: The Battle of Japan
BANZAI ! Nice Job, John... Keep that rate of exchange !
Apart from the new plane, also the number of planes might have helped. 164 is the biggest CAP you mustered that I saw during the last few turns.
Hartwig
Apart from the new plane, also the number of planes might have helped. 164 is the biggest CAP you mustered that I saw during the last few turns.
Hartwig
RE: The Battle of Japan
great... Keep it up.. Now that you might be stronger in the Home islands, Dan will probably have to think of how to destroy your Fighter force, I see a few possibilities : 1/ A carrier raid coupled with fighter sweeps : He will bleed you but it might hurt him a lot. 2/ what is the status of your defences in northern Japan ? If I was him I would reinforce my grip on Sakhalin and the Jimas chain and land in Hokkaido again. Once he controls Hokkaido, you would be toasted.. Is that possible ?
Adieu Ô Dieu odieux... signé Adam
RE: The Battle of Japan
I don't think he will invade Hokkaido again - at least not in '44. First he will probably bomb everything up there into the stone age - that's free strategic points and no risk. I don't see any LCUs defending the NE coast of Korea - is that true? Are you prepared to see P-38 from Genzan soon?
If I was Dan, I would finish off Singapore, then Indochina, and then just march on to Hong Kong, Shanghai etc. Reasons are similiar: Logistics are simple (no amphib invasion needed), no risk, lots of victory points, eventually large airbases very close to southern Japan. Both sides pulled out lots of troops from china a long time ago, thus he has probably huge amounts of supllies in China which will help this campaign a lot. I don't think you can stop this steamroller. You should try to hold him in Singapore as long as possible, that's all you can do.
If I was Dan, I would finish off Singapore, then Indochina, and then just march on to Hong Kong, Shanghai etc. Reasons are similiar: Logistics are simple (no amphib invasion needed), no risk, lots of victory points, eventually large airbases very close to southern Japan. Both sides pulled out lots of troops from china a long time ago, thus he has probably huge amounts of supllies in China which will help this campaign a lot. I don't think you can stop this steamroller. You should try to hold him in Singapore as long as possible, that's all you can do.
They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. (Benjamin Franklin)
RE: The Battle of Japan
Bogo is dead-on. There is nothing I can do with the Allied Steamroller.
Singapore will be gone within a month. Saigon should be gone right NOW; however, the 21 units simply sitting in Hue can simply SIT THERE as far as I am concerned. I have two partial divisions sitting in Cam Rahn Bay and two Brigades holding Bangkok. That is all in the China!
As to landing in Hokkaido again...I WOULD LOVE IT! There is easily 6,000 AS on that northern island now. The amount of ground reinforcements I have gotten in the last two months defies the imagination. WHERE were these divisions when I needed them in 1943? The window to take the Home Islands disappeared about 3 months ago. I will never understand why he didn't stake everything into Sapporo once he captured it? I couldn't have taken it back against all that LBA.
Singapore will be gone within a month. Saigon should be gone right NOW; however, the 21 units simply sitting in Hue can simply SIT THERE as far as I am concerned. I have two partial divisions sitting in Cam Rahn Bay and two Brigades holding Bangkok. That is all in the China!
As to landing in Hokkaido again...I WOULD LOVE IT! There is easily 6,000 AS on that northern island now. The amount of ground reinforcements I have gotten in the last two months defies the imagination. WHERE were these divisions when I needed them in 1943? The window to take the Home Islands disappeared about 3 months ago. I will never understand why he didn't stake everything into Sapporo once he captured it? I couldn't have taken it back against all that LBA.
Member: Treaty, Reluctant Admiral and Between the Storms Mod Team.
RE: The Battle of Japan
I guess he played it safe... So Singapour and the DEI are gone soon. once you don't get any oil from there except a few blockade runners, how long do you recon will your economy be able to build planes ?
Adieu Ô Dieu odieux... signé Adam