Rumble in the Southwest witpqs-A vs Andav-J 2011-11-29 to 2017-02-08

[witpqs]

1943 November 27

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:
Guam

Our subs scored on a merchant NW of Luzon and on a DD in the Andaman Sea.

The usual beatings from the air in China. It looks like DAW HQ has ordered all of the Imperial walkers (armor) into Kunming for a mass attack. We are clearing out some non-combat units to alleviate overcrowding and allow more supply for combat. Moving out are 2x Corps HQ and 2x Base Forces, but they need two more days without being bombed. Tomorrow our B-24 groups at Dimapur will temporarily switch from the battle hex near Toungoo to the enemy troops investing Kunming. Other 4EB already target them, but the issue at Kunming is in doubt.

Meanwhile, the attack is ordered at Tsuyung, inadequate supply and all. Let's see if we can expel that Imperial unit. And in the other direction, over the troops SW of Kunming (some shortly retreated there) there were clouds of bombers today, only two raids with escort, and that of Oscars. The P-47 group at Paoshan will be joined by a Spitfire VIII group and together they will fly LRCAP over those troops tomorrow, at 20,000 and 15,000 ft respectively. Most of the raids seemed to be 9,000-12,000 ft. Keep your fingers crossed!

All our sweeps over Burma found only air. The Imperial fighters are sitting tight. It looks like about 5 days before all of the additional armor is in place for the next attack SW of Toungoo.

Allied bombardments in the Pacific. The bombardments of Guam were all good.

SHIP CREWS PERFORM DAMAGE CONTROL
Allied Ships Bombarding Guam
Allied Ships Bombarding Guam
Allied Ships Bombarding Guam
Allied Ships Bombarding Peleliu
Allied Ships Bombarding Yap
Allied Ships Bombarding Guam
Allied Ships Bombarding Guam

Prior to the bombardments the general area was cleared.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Guam at 107,94, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Oyashio, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Bradford
DD Brownson
DD Franks
DD Philip

Reduced sighting due to 0% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions and 0% moonlight: 2,000 yards
Range closes to 27,000 yards...
Range closes to 25,000 yards...
Range closes to 23,000 yards...
Range closes to 21,000 yards...
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 15,000 yards...
Range closes to 13,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
Range closes to 5,000 yards...
Range closes to 4,000 yards...
Range closes to 3,000 yards...
Range closes to 2,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 2,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 2,000 yards
DD Oyashio engages DD Philip at 2,000 yards
DD Franks engages DD Oyashio at 2,000 yards
DD Oyashio engages DD Brownson at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 3,000 yards
DD Oyashio engages DD Philip at 3,000 yards
Range increases to 5,000 yards
DD Franks engages DD Oyashio at 5,000 yards
DD Bradford engages DD Oyashio at 5,000 yards
DD Oyashio engages DD Philip at 5,000 yards
DD Brownson engages DD Oyashio at 5,000 yards
Range increases to 6,000 yards
DD Oyashio engages DD Philip at 6,000 yards
DD Franks engages DD Oyashio at 6,000 yards
DD Brownson engages DD Oyashio at 6,000 yards
Task forces break off...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Saipan at 107,93, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
ACM Tama Maru, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
ACM Tama Maru #2, Shell hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
DD Bradford
DD Brownson
DD Franks
DD Philip

Reduced sighting due to 0% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions and 0% moonlight: 2,000 yards
Range closes to 27,000 yards...
Range closes to 25,000 yards...
Range closes to 23,000 yards...
Range closes to 21,000 yards...
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 15,000 yards...
Range closes to 13,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
Range closes to 5,000 yards...
Range closes to 4,000 yards...
Range closes to 3,000 yards...
Range closes to 2,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 2,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 2,000 yards
Archibald, A.G. crosses the 'T'
ACM Tama Maru #2 sunk by DD Philip at 2,000 yards
DD Philip engages ACM Tama Maru at 2,000 yards
ACM Tama Maru sunk by DD Franks at 2,000 yards
Combat ends with last Japanese ship sunk...


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The landings at Guam were an anticlimax even to the logistics of getting the troops there. No ships were hit - although many shots were fired by defenders - and mishaps were few. Massive supply is ashore but considering the light resistance orders have been given to unload the rest.

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Ground combat at Guam (106,95)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 16824 troops, 207 guns, 101 vehicles, Assault Value = 511

Defending force 26971 troops, 421 guns, 392 vehicles, Assault Value = 785

Japanese ground losses:
29 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
24 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Assaulting units:
12th Division
Det. 3rd Special Base Force
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
13th Air Flotilla
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
4th Base Force
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
15th Base Force
65th Field AA Battalion
13th RF Gun (Pack) Battalion
19th Army
59th Field AA Battalion
25th Special Base Force

Defending units:
7th Infantry Division
1st (Spec) Cavalry Division
4th USMC Tank Battalion
XI US Corps
2nd Pioneer Battalion
225th Field Artillery Battalion
249th Field Artillery Battalion
33rd Medium Regiment


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Ulithi appears undefended.

A company of Australian commandos has been airlifted to Kalao, south of Celebes and north of Flores, where their engineer squad will build an airfield while the whole company, sustained by supply airlift, sets up a defensive perimeter. Kalao has a coast line so inhospitable that the game does not allow amphibious landing there. The hope is to have an airfield pop up there when we are pushing into areas to the east and northeast, and cause a diversion of resources.

Namlea (next to Ambon) appears undefended. Koepang has a dozen fighters, likely a dozen search planes, 5 units, 9,300 troops, 53 guns, and 27 AFV.

Here is our secret base at Kalao.

[JocMeister]

How did you airlift the engineers in?? I have been unable to do that in my game. I always assumed it was for balancing reasons!

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

How did you airlift the engineers in?? I have been unable to do that in my game. I always assumed it was for balancing reasons!

I can only get them to go when air lifting with these.

[witpqs]

Here's the whole unit. Probably drive onward to Tokyo by themselves after they finish the airfield.

[JocMeister]

Hmm, I think I´ve tried that. Might be mistaken though! [:)]

[witpqs]

Remember this is Babes (28-C from December 2011), so there might have been some adjustments from whatever scenario you tried it in. Also, this is technically a sea-lift in game code as it is a coastal hex.

Not sure if they are small enough to para-drop even with those big planes or not.

[witpqs]

I want some of these!
http://www.strategypage.com/military_photos/20140203233058.aspx

[witpqs]

Here is what it looks like inside.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Computer-generated_picture_of_Mobile_Landing_Platform.jpg

Artists concept of an Afloat Forward Staging Base variant.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:3RQHZNa.jpg

A proof of concept exercise.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mobile_Landing_Platform.jpg

And the main Wikipedia article.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_Landing_Platform

Edited this post to include links to the files for those Wikipedia images, since I can not seem to get them to display.

Edited Again: Got it working but left the links too.

[witpqs]

1943 November 28

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


Our subs hit a merchant overnight.

The IJA air forces took only some losses in the CAP actions today, as they had better (but still inadequate) escorts. The main factor is that we have too few planes too far away to catch them solidly, but our boys got some licks in. There are two "aces in a day" that flew from Paoshan. See the air losses below.

The attack at Tsuyung went well. SEAC is in range (at Ledo) and 100% prepared for Tsuyung, so that might have helped. The Imperials are seen marching another in to take their place, but that will take a while.

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Ground combat at Tsuyung (68,46)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 31427 troops, 407 guns, 234 vehicles, Assault Value = 776

Defending force 4154 troops, 33 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 121

Allied adjusted assault: 480

Japanese adjusted defense: 85

Allied assault odds: 5 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
1278 casualties reported
Squads: 38 destroyed, 30 disabled
Non Combat: 36 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 7 (5 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Units retreated 1

Allied ground losses:
688 casualties reported
Squads: 14 destroyed, 37 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 10 disabled
Guns lost 8 (2 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
7th Australian Division
27th Infantry Division
200th Chinese Division
NCAC
Tenth USAAF
102nd RAF Base Force
X' Force
2nd Group Army
22nd Artillery Regiment
16th Chinese Base Force

Defending units:
110th/C Division


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

There is increased IJN activity in the Andaman Sea but no clear assessment of what they are up to. The number of Imperial fighters at Rangoon has been slowly increasing and is now at 68. He's up to something. I know he is.

The Allied Pacific bombardments.

Allied Ships Bombarding Saipan
Allied Ships Bombarding Guam
Allied Ships Bombarding Peleliu
Allied Ships Bombarding Guam
Allied Ships Bombarding Guam
Allied Ships Bombarding Yap
Allied Ships Bombarding Guam

We had our first casualties at Guam as two AK struck mines, and one of them later took two shell hits. They will both survive but both are hit bad enough to be out of action. They will break into a separate TF and unload their remaining cargoes at Rota where no one will shoot at them.

Good news; that IJN destroyer that was hit in the night surface action near Guam has sunk again, this time due to a submarine torpedo.

Quite a concentration of Imperial amphibious and merchant shipping at Catbalogan on Samar. No airfield but a size 2 port. Some B-24s from Babeldaob are being sent to hit the port tomorrow to try and slow loading/unloading.

Here are today's air losses.

[witpqs]

1943 November 29

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:
Guam

Our subs got an AKE and an xAKL

The Empire struck at Kunming, but our guys held.

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Ground combat at Kunming (69,48)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 18056 troops, 99 guns, 669 vehicles, Assault Value = 811

Defending force 43051 troops, 426 guns, 172 vehicles, Assault Value = 1105

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 3

Japanese adjusted assault: 150

Allied adjusted defense: 691

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 4 (fort level 3)

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

Japanese ground losses:
772 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 81 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 61 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 17 (1 destroyed, 16 disabled)
Vehicles lost 289 (61 destroyed, 228 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
689 casualties reported
Squads: 12 destroyed, 46 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 7 (2 destroyed, 5 disabled)

Assaulting units:
15th Tank Regiment
2nd Ind.Mixed Regiment
23rd Tank Regiment
6th Tank Regiment
5th Tank Regiment
9th Tank Regiment
14th Tank Regiment
4th Tank Regiment
12th Tank Regiment
17th Tank Regiment
51st Infantry Brigade
10th Tank Regiment
32nd/B Division
52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion

Defending units:
54th Chinese Corps
6th Australian Division
95th Chinese Corps
9th Australian Division
Y' Force
11th Group Army


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The reduction in fortifications was unfortunate, but we will try to rebuild them. The supply situation makes that unlikely, and the air base is currently damaged S:34, R:31. The C-87 group at Tezpur will begin flying supply directly into Kunming. The corps HQ's and one Inf corps' commanders have been replaced with better, although they were decent for the lot to choose from. The two Allied tank units that were retreated to the south are on their way into the city, although that will increase supply usage. So, to balance that, the army HQ will move out to the NW. The HQ's radius should work for full combat support, and there will still be adequate support squads in the hex.

Our CAP over Kunming was swept away by several George sweeps in the morning. And while our casualties were low, the sweeps were 100% successful as none of our fighters were available to meet Imperial bomber raids. Tomorrow an additional Spitfire VIII group will fly from Ledo and fly at 25,000 ft over Kunming.

The last of the armoured units has made it to Toungoo. The various units at Toungoo, currently about 465 AV and consisting of perhaps half that amount in tanks, will be on line in the battle hex to the SW in two or three days.

There are now 79 fighters at Rangoon, and still no opposition to our sweeps. So tomorrow the three P-47 squadrons and the Corsair group at Prome, plus the Spitfire VIII group at Bassein will all sweep Rangoon. In the afternoon, the six B-24J groups at Dimapur will bomb Rangoon air base. Maybe we can catch them still on the ground. In any event, hitting them three or four days before our ground attack is a good idea.

Allied bombardments in the Pacific.

Allied Ships Bombarding Saipan
Allied Ships Bombarding Saipan
Allied Ships Bombarding Guam
Allied Ships Bombarding Peleliu
Allied Ships Bombarding Yap
Allied Ships Bombarding Guam
Allied Ships Bombarding Guam

The landings at Guam went well but there were a greater number of shell hits on ships. Only two LSTs seemed to notice. The second wave is ashore.

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Ground combat at Guam (106,95)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 16831 troops, 209 guns, 102 vehicles, Assault Value = 512

Defending force 40027 troops, 624 guns, 758 vehicles, Assault Value = 1298

Japanese ground losses:
48 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
7 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 11 (2 destroyed, 9 disabled)

Assaulting units:
12th Division
Det. 3rd Special Base Force
19th Army
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
13th RF Gun (Pack) Battalion
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
15th Base Force
4th Base Force
59th Field AA Battalion
65th Field AA Battalion
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
13th Air Flotilla
25th Special Base Force

Defending units:
4th USMC Tank Battalion
1st (Spec) Cavalry Division
7th Infantry Division
2nd USMC Tank Battalion
3rd USMC Tank Battalion
33rd Infantry Division
3rd NZ Armoured Sqn
249th Field Artillery Battalion
XI US Corps
2nd Pioneer Battalion
225th Field Artillery Battalion
33rd Medium Regiment


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The 33rd ID is lacking a fair amount of its support, which is catching up in a separate TF.

The port attack on Catbalogan achieved very little.

Here are today's air losses.

[witpqs]

1943 November 30

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:
Kiriwina Island

There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:
Kaimana

Our subs got 2x xAK, one of them twice!

About the same regarding sweeps over Kunming. Given that the George drivers are likely excellent pilots, we're doing pretty well to hold things that low. Supply is beginning to get into the the infantry units - 6th Australian Division has 113 tons, the others still 0.

The attack on Rangoon did some good.

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Afternoon Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 77 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 26 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 33

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-84a Frank: 2 destroyed on ground
Ki-46-III Dinah: 1 destroyed on ground

No Allied losses

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

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 26

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 37 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 6

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Runway hits 4

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

There are some convoys unloading down the coast, and some warships with them. One of those xAK torpedoed was south of there and looked to be on its way north with supplies.

A few more shell hits on the LSTs unloading at Truk. Some AK still have supply to unload, but the troops are already up to 10x the required supply. Should be plenty to supply them plus the remainder of the troops for combat. The larger amphibious convoy is most of the way back to Truk to rearm before they head to Hansa bay to pick up the 24th ID and 1st USMC Div. There is already a convoy at Vanimo to pick up the 3rd USMC Div, merely waiting to coordinate with the other two divisions.

The 11th and 12th NZ Bdes are loaded at Christchurch, fully prepared for Yap, and are on their way to Vanimo where they will transfer to assault shipping.

Kaimana will be secured tomorrow.

As of tomorrow (the current orders phase), some interesting planes start producing for the Allies.
Corsair II - British - 16/mo
P-38J - USA - 50/mo
P-40N26 - USA - 6/mo
F6F-3N - USN - 4/mo
PBJ-1D - USN - 12/mo
PBM-3D - USN - 8/mo
C-60A - NZ - 5/mo

Here are the day's air losses.

[witpqs]

1943 December 01

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:
Kaimana

There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


Allied subs got an xAK.

The badly mauled and retreating 303rd held off armoured pursuers, but rocks have as much effect as their bullets.

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Ground combat at 81,14 (near Hami)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 180 troops, 0 guns, 32 vehicles, Assault Value = 17

Defending force 1442 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 24

Japanese adjusted assault: 8

Allied adjusted defense: 82

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 10

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

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

Assaulting units:
31st Tankette Co

Defending units:
303rd Brigade


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Our LRCAP over Kunming finally managed to catch some Imperial flights without escort, and the largest intercept yielded a good success (probably 10x Helens shot down outright). The Imperial George sweeps did take 2 or 2.5 to 1, but those numbers were low we did well overall. The Empire still got its bombers through, but there are fewer of them now, and we should be able to repeat that often enough to knock down their efforts.

Our B-24 strikes on Lao Cai found the airfield almost empty - most aircraft in the air attacking our troops or fighters, and we left the size 4 field showing 10% damage. If past patterns hold, that will be shown higher with recon tomorrow.

Meanwhile, the Empire decided to fully contest the skies over Rangoon. Only our fighters were there to meet them. The very first engagement went to the Empire, giving 1x fighter for 2x Spitfire VIII. After that, it was all Allies. The totals are mixed in with other combats, but on the day the Empire handed over 65x Frank, 16x George, and 11x Tojo for between a quarter and a third as many Allied fighters.

Tomorrow, 3,435 AV including a tank complement larger than before will attack in the battle hex SW of Toungoo. In addition to the bombers that have been hitting the enemy there constantly, the 6x B-24J groups will go in at 5,000 ft. The devastation of the Imperial fighter hordes over Rangoon came at just the right time.

Ternate proved to be a tough nut for B-24 from Babeldaob, with about 4 being lost to various causes in spite of a P-38 escort for the largest strike. It looks as though little damage was done.

Kaimana was occupied and the assault convoy finished unloading. More supply is on the way. Our covering force of cruisers and destroyers from Darwin, cruising in the eastern Banda Sea, remained unfound by enemy scouts.

Allied bombardments in the Pacific.

Allied Ships Bombarding Saipan
Allied Ships Bombarding Peleliu
Allied Ships Bombarding Yap
Allied Ships Bombarding Saipan
Allied Ships Bombarding Saipan

The remainder of the 33rd ID plus several tank units and artillery units will land on Guam tomorrow. The large amphib convoy replenished at Truk and is now headed for Hansa Bay to pick up those two divisions. Four fast battleships - North Carolina, Washington, South Dakota, Indiana - entered the shipyard at Pearl Harbor for upgrades and repairs, along with their escorting destroyers. Yorktown and Hornet are one day behind them, so Pearl is going to be crowded for a while. Yap is showing significantly fewer troops for the last couple of turns. Probably be air-evacuated by the time we invade! One or more convoys have been detected, and one attacked by submarine, going from the mid-Philippines toward the Bonins. Is DAW HQ reinforcing against a thrust straight to the north?

Here are today's air losses.

[witpqs]

Attached here is the complete combat report.

[witpqs]

1943 December 02

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:
Goodenough Island

There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:
Guam

Our subs seemed to come up dry overnight, but one got a beating while trying to attack warships at Mergui. During the day a sub in the DEI hit a PB, so that was payback.

LRCAP at Kunming took down some Judy dive bombers.

The battle near Toungoo went, well, so so. Odds were good, but casualties are still against us. Certainly progress if we can get our troops rested quickly enough to keep up a tempo that wears down the enemy. Lots of units, including all armor and all artillery, have been placed into reserve-no pursuit so they can recover as fast as possible. Plenty of combat power on the line to handle any counter attack, of course.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at 56,51 (near Toungoo)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 124003 troops, 1936 guns, 2829 vehicles, Assault Value = 3470

Defending force 49559 troops, 418 guns, 84 vehicles, Assault Value = 1333

Allied adjusted assault: 1313

Japanese adjusted defense: 1291

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), fatigue(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
2634 casualties reported
Squads: 23 destroyed, 145 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 18 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 24 (1 destroyed, 23 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
9155 casualties reported
Squads: 314 destroyed, 327 disabled
Non Combat: 34 destroyed, 81 disabled
Engineers: 89 destroyed, 108 disabled
Guns lost 89 (59 destroyed, 30 disabled)
Vehicles lost 230 (106 destroyed, 124 disabled)

Assaulting units:
Gardner's Horse Regiment
22nd (East African) Brigade
4th Marine Division
255th Armoured Brigade
50th Tank Brigade
I Aus Corps Engineer Battalion
637th Tank Destroyer Battalion
1st Garrison Brigade
7th Indian Division
19th Indian Division
268th Motorised Brigade
75th Indian Brigade
13th Indian Brigade
2nd British Division
192nd Tank Battalion
150th RAC Regiment
14th Indian Division
23rd Indian Division
Rifles of Canada Battalion
3rd Carabiniers Regiment
Provisionl Tank Brigade
29th British Brigade
632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion
26th Indian Brigade
20th Indian Division
17th Indian Division
2/11th Field Regiment
27th Indian Field Artillery Battalion
48th Light AA Regiment
2/9th Field Regiment
2/1st Med Regiment
IV Indian Corps
77th Heavy AA Regiment
78th Light AA Regiment
22nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment

Defending units:
40th Inf Group Brigade
53rd Division
14th Division
29th Division
77th Infantry Regiment
55th Mountain Gun Regiment
44th Field AA Battalion


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The B-24 groups are going back to 10,000 ft and tomorrow will shift their attention back to the Imperial armoured spearhead at Kunming.

Allied bombardments in the Pacific.

Allied Ships Bombarding Peleliu
Allied Ships Bombarding Tinian
Allied Ships Bombarding Guam
Allied Ships Bombarding Yap
Allied Ships Bombarding Guam
Allied Ships Bombarding Saipan

Here is the balance on Guam. Three Allied divisions to go!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Guam (106,95)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 16848 troops, 208 guns, 106 vehicles, Assault Value = 512

Defending force 41911 troops, 646 guns, 1043 vehicles, Assault Value = 1423

Japanese ground losses:
66 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
44 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 5 (3 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Assaulting units:
12th Division
Det. 3rd Special Base Force
59th Field AA Battalion
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
13th Air Flotilla
4th Base Force
19th Army
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
15th Base Force
13th RF Gun (Pack) Battalion
65th Field AA Battalion
25th Special Base Force

Defending units:
3rd USMC Tank Battalion
7th Infantry Division
33rd Infantry Division
762nd Tank Battalion
1st (Spec) Cavalry Division
763rd Tank Battalion
2nd USMC Tank Battalion
4th USMC Tank Battalion
3rd NZ Armoured Sqn
225th Field Artillery Battalion
198th Field Artillery Battalion
XI US Corps
249th Field Artillery Battalion
2nd Pioneer Battalion
33rd Medium Regiment


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3rd USMC Div will begin loading tomorrow. The large amphib convoy is about 2 1/2 days out from picking up the remaining two divisions.

Here is the Intel screen.

[witpqs]

1943 December 03

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


Our subs got an xAKL and an xAK.

Some Oscar escorts taken in the skies over Kunming, but otherwise the usual beatings from the air were more directed at Chungking.

Still no further aerial opposition in Burma, but fighters are building up at Rangoon. meanwhile, our ground troops are recovering nicely, although the worst-off two units have a ways to go. One of those, a regiment, is being sent back to Toungoo to recover as it only has 14 AV effective anyway.

Allied bombardments in the Pacific.

Allied Ships Bombarding Saipan
Allied Ships Bombarding Saipan
Allied Ships Bombarding Tinian
Allied Ships Bombarding Saipan
Allied Ships Bombarding Guam

3rd USMC Div is fully loaded and putting to sea. Another day+ for the two remaining divisions convoy to arrive.

Two new CVE just upgraded their fighters to Hellcats at Truk and are on their way to join the CVE fleet. Two supply convoys are loading at Truk to restock Rota, where naval and air ordnance is just flying off the shelves.

Here are the various capital ships under repair. POW will be have lost a good year, more or less, by the time she is back in action.

[witpqs]

1943 December 04

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:
Fergusson Island

There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


Our subs came up dry night and day in spite of several attacks.

The Bde making for Urumchi has been caught by four Imperial units but can probably make it our of the hex before they attack tomorrow. Our LRCAP over Kunming wandered enough to lose some planes to sweeps to the south, but even in doing so came out ahead by taking down escorts and Judys when a raid arrived. The bad news is that the punishment of units trapped at Chungking is like shooting fish in a barrel.

The Allied units near Toungoo continue to recover and are comely along nicely. One or two more turns until the next attack.

Still lots of Imperial convoy activity at Catbalogan.

Allied bombardments in the Pacific.

Allied Ships Bombarding Saipan
Allied Ships Bombarding Peleliu
Allied Ships Bombarding Yap
Allied Ships Bombarding Guam
Allied Ships Bombarding Saipan

Our last troop convoy for Guam assault troops is one hex out from the pickup, so they will load tomorrow.

Here is the situation in China and Burma.

[witpqs]

1943 December 05

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


Our subs got an xAK and had some failed attacks.

The usual in China. The troops at Chungking are being heavily attrited by air strikes. Supply is hard to come by in the mountains.

The troops near Toungoo are almost ready for the next attack, and there is lots of enemy convoy activity along the lower coast of Burma. We will make heavy sweeps of Rangoon tomorrow as Imperial fighter strength there is back up.

Allied Pacific bombardments,

Allied Ships Bombarding Peleliu
Allied Ships Bombarding Yap

The last two divisions are loading for Guam.

With the troops that are lost in China every day, we are at best treading water in the VP department until the next breakthrough or objective seized.

[witpqs]

1943 December 06

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


Our subs got a tanker.

The same in China, heavy hits on the troops at Chungking. VPs are actually swinging from those daily losses.

It was a tough day in the air over Burma, as the sweeps over Rangoon went in last of all, after the anti-shipping strikes were slaughtered. And when they did go in, they took 'escorts' with them, who could get chewed upon while they did their work! Air losses posted below. One ship was hit, xAK Ryunan Maru, which took two bomb hits.

The attack is on for tomorrow SW of Toungoo. 3,092 AV, 636 engineers, 44 engineer vehicles, 30,108 infantry, 118,117 second line troops, 2,924 vehicles, and 2,005 guns. The B-24 groups will switch from targets at Kunming and drop down to 5,000 ft. The other bombing groups will continue, and a new group will go on line flying the A-20G Havoc attack bomber at 3,000 ft. Their average rating in low ground is 60, but only 40 in strafing and 37 in experience. I would like to train them longer, but...

CL Kenya made substantial repairs at Calcutta, but is now at Colombo for final repairs. The estimate is 5 days, much quicker than at the smaller shipyard. Colombo was completely tied up when she went to Calcutta, though.

Allied bombardments in the Pacific.

Allied Ships Bombarding Saipan
Allied Ships Bombarding Saipan
Allied Ships Bombarding Tinian
Allied Ships Bombarding Peleliu
Allied Ships Bombarding Yap

The fleet carriers were able to replenish their air sorties at Rota (I do have a large bunch of AKE at Rota), a great boon to time on station. Sorties, BTW, are a great advantage of the Essex class over the earlier USN carriers.

Both assault convoys (all three remaining divisions), need four days to arrive in the vicinity of Guam, then both will unload the following day. The ships are lightly loaded so all troops should be ashore the same day, and the general attack will take place the day after. So, final landing in 5 days and attack in 6 days from now.

The P-38J is being produced 30/month, while 20 factories are still producing the P-38H. I presume those 20 will switch sometime during December.

Here are today's air losses.

[princep01]

Looking thru the air losses inspires a couple of questions: Can those Albacore Is not upgrade to a better plane like Avengers? Also, what do you think about the Beaufighter TFX (that is a torpedo plane, isn't it?). Also, is the P-40N a night fighter or just an improved variant over the P-40K?

We are about a year behind you and the good admiral and I have never played deep enough into the game to know much about these mid war aircraft.

Thanks for taking the time to answer. I am watching your game with great interest, especially the action in the Mariannas.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: princep01

Looking thru the air losses inspires a couple of questions: Can those Albacore Is not upgrade to a better plane like Avengers? Also, what do you think about the Beaufighter TFX (that is a torpedo plane, isn't it?). Also, is the P-40N a night fighter or just an improved variant over the P-40K?

We are about a year behind you and the good admiral and I have never played deep enough into the game to know much about these mid war aircraft.

Thanks for taking the time to answer. I am watching your game with great interest, especially the action in the Mariannas.

One big (21-plane) group has upgraded to Avengers, though I forget precisely which Great-War plane they were flying previously! [:D] Those Albacores might be able to, I haven't check stock on them in a bit. I try to go through much of the pools of older aircraft before abandoning them, owing to the Allies' production being capped.

Beaufughter TFX seems great. I just need more of them. No complaints about the production level, merely need time. Also regarding all torpedo planes for the British, I am training up more pilots in torpedo skill due to the high casualties. I still have a number of highly skilled pilots, but too few to fill out the torp groups. I've got groups on the line with 1/2 veterans and 1/2 rookies ordered for 30 or 40% training and the rest naval attack. It's called "OTJ". [:D]

The P-40N is like an improved P-40E. IIRC top speed is about 350 to 360 mph, something like 20 mph slower than the P-40K. But you get what you get! They are more sturdy (durability), but overall I think the K performs better air-to-air. I've switched some groups but are keeping some P-40K groups on line until that model is run dry.

I'm "sure" that Guam will fall quickly with ~6 to 1 in AV, plus the firepower difference, not to mention naval and air support chipping in. After that, it will mostly be transit time again for Saipan because the forces are all prepared. I figure to drop a bunch on Guam, land the rest on Saipan and then shuttle the others from Guam. That way the time from the first landing to the last will be much shorter. The thing is that Siapan is defended by about 10,000 more IJ troops (and so is Tinian). Not sure if the number of combat troops is much different, we'll have to wait to see. I do know that it is devilishly hard to keep Saipan - or Tinian - damaged, so I think they have loads of engineers. More than Guam. Tinian will require many troops from Guam to prepare.