Here we go again! tc464 (A) vs. Mike (J) - No tc464

[Mike Solli]

[:D] I had a feeling Ted was messing with the game.

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

Admiral Solli-San:

Imperial Headquarters requests details of your operational plan to land on Java, specifically, our maps indicate Singkawang or maybe Billiton might be good places to land to establish air control south of Singapore, so that our forces can then easily liberate Java in late January from the Dutch colonialist yoke.

Intelligence indicates that the Dutch colonialists are due to receive Hurricanes starting in 3/42, and that their forces grow stronger with time, making an early landing highly advisable.

What forces do you plan? What is your target date for landing, and what bases will you capture along the way?

What are your plans in the Southern DEI, so that the Australian colonialists cannot interfere with us taking what is rightfully ours?

While waiting for my esteemed opponent to stop crying and end his turn, I may as well answer some questions and talk a bit. [:D]

I won't move on Java until Singapore is liberated.

I plan on occupying a string of airfields both from the north and east. Singkawang and then either Billiton or Tobali from the north occupied by the majority of 3 Air Division and from the east, Tarakan to Balikpapan to Bandjermasan. This will be occupied by 5 Air Division (minus what's still at the Philippines) supported by elements of the 21 Air Flotilla.

16 Army will invade the south end of Java and elements of 25 Army will invade the north of Java. I'm also considering invading with some forces attached directly to Southern Army (4 & 21 ID and 21 IMB) if there's enough shipping.

Overall, I'd like to see 3 divisions and 3 Tank regiments in the north (25 Army), 2 divisions in the center (Southern Army) and 2 divisions and 2 tank regiments in the south (16 Army), along with supporting forces, of course.

That's good intel on the Hurricanes. I didn't know that.

I see the southern border of the SRA as the northern coastline of Australia. I plan on using much of the above forces to take Northern Australia. After it's liberated, I'll pull most of it out for the defense of the SRA as well as a strategic reserve for that area.

I'm tempted to not combine the divisional units that start the game broken up. I like the flexibility.

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

Edit: I recommend sending a lot more Adens to Pt. Arthur. Resources are accumulating there fast. I'm up to about 20 right now.

Told you Pt. Arthur would have a ton of resources quickly [:D] It's a real nice option if the Shikuka route gets heavy sub attention.

Mike, an unrelated suggestion, I'd also think about upgrading your CVL carrier planes quickly to Zero's and replace the Jean's, and the Claudes in Kwajalein. I think Kwajalein requires the 11th Command HQ there though, the bases there are not big enough to upgrade on their own, or ship them quickly using the Taiyo escort carrier to Takao. They can be a nasty surprise early and really helps the defensive capability of little KB. Don't neglect to protect your forward bases early from raids either, especially if no surface ships are at hand and your opponent is aggressive (I'm learning this the hard way in another game). In particular Babeldoab, Truk, and Kwajalein. Also, set all your air squardons on your CV's to "resize to fit ship" they are not all at full complement at start I believe. I had some resize from 18 to 21 for Zeros I think, and 18 to 27 for Bombers. Nothing like more offensive capability [;)] Just some things I've learned.

Yeah, I plan on doing that. With Ryujo recuperating at Palau, I've resized her daitai and will upgrade when she's closer to being repaired. The others will do the same when they reach port.

[Mike Solli]

14 Dec 41

Relatively quiet day today.

Philippines

One P40E was shot down for no Japanese loss (the P49s seem to have disappeared Joe. [:D])

I took Cabanatuan, Tugeugarao and Antimonan (all 40 resources captured intact).

The S-36 is still snooping around Vigan and took a couple of near misses.

Malaya

A Blenheim IV was shot down. My ground forces are still slowly spreading out. Most importantly, I took Victoria point, to prepare for the air assault of Pt. Blair. The future invasion/garrison forces are moving to Victoria Point.

China

I took Kweiteh, which frees up a LOC and also got the 40 resources and 20 LI intact.

SE Fleet

Nothing new to report.

4th Fleet

KB split today with Akagi, Kaga, 2 BB & some DDs to arrive at Kwajalein tomorrow and the rest to arrive at Truk in 2 days.

Japan

Nothing new to report.

Other odds & ends

Ryujo & Hatsukaze arrived at Babeldaob and will take 57 and 38 days respectively to repair. Kongo is still headed to Cam Ranh Bay and reduced it's flot damage by a couple. The I-123 is crawling to port at 1 hex a day so it'll take a month to arrive. Her flot damage reduced by two to 79(71). I'm amazed she's still afloat.

Ted just sent a turn. [:D]

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: jwilkerson

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli
Philippines

There was very little Allied air power today.  I sweep over all the occupied Allied airfields and ran into only 2 P-49Es, shooting down one.

Lockheed P-49E Lightning
The P-49E introduced power-boosted ailerons. These consisted of ailerons that were operated by a hydraulically-actuated bell-crank and push-pull rod, making it easier for the pilot to maneuver the airplane at high airspeeds. This boosting system was one of the first applications of powered controls to any fighter, and required only 17 percent of the previous stick forces. The hydraulic aileron booster system vastly improved the roll rate and thereby increased the effectiveness of the P-49 in combat. P-49Es with power-boosted ailerons proved to have the highest roll-rates of any fighter.


(a bit scary if you ask me!!!)

Ahem.

Important Note.

This Website is a work of fiction set in an alternate universe. While based on certain historical events any similarity, of characters to persons living or dead, their actions and events surrounding them are purely coincidental. Although the names of historical characters appear, they do not necessarily represent the same people we know in our reality.

[ny59giants]

I see the southern border of the SRA as the northern coastline of Australia. I plan on using much of the above forces to take Northern Australia. After it's liberated, I'll pull most of it out for the defense of the SRA as well as a strategic reserve for that area.

How much of Northern Australia will be included (does that include as far west as Exmouth or just to Broome)??

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

I see the southern border of the SRA as the northern coastline of Australia. I plan on using much of the above forces to take Northern Australia. After it's liberated, I'll pull most of it out for the defense of the SRA as well as a strategic reserve for that area.

How much of Northern Australia will be included (does that include as far west as Exmouth or just to Broome)??

That's a good question. With AE and all the new bases, it appears really easy to get mired down there. This map shows what I'd like to take and hold for about 6 months or so, say to late 42. If I could hold this into 43, that would be great. I'd use 14 and 16 Army and then pull out all the good units and leave some trash to give the signature of a much larger force.

[Mike Solli]

15 Dec 42

We plod along liberating what is rightfully ours!

Off the coast of Hawaii

South of Hawaii, I have 8 subs patrolling. The I-4 spotted and put 2 torpedoes into an xAK. About 100 miles to the SE, her sister, the I-3, put 2 torps and a shell into a TK. I expect both to go down.

Philippines

Both Polillo and Laoag were liberated today. Off San Fernando, 3 cowardly PT boats managed to put a torpedo into the Ise. I suspect Ted will make this into a glorious victory, but in actuality, Ise's damage is 3-5(1)-0-0. [:D] She will remain on station.

Another S boat put in an appearance and put a torpedo into an xAK. She'll survive assuming she takes no more damage. Unfortunately, this S boat got away. Oh yeah, the P-40 menace is just about gone. Only 1 rose against our sweeps and was promptly shot down.

Malaya

Nothing new to report.

China

Another deliberate assault against Hong Kong netted 304 British casuaties to 700 Japanese and reduced the fort level to 2. We will continue the 2-3 days of barrage and assault regimen.

Elsewhere in China, I made a couple of mistakes. I assumed all of the Chinese units scattered around the country are small, insignificant units. Not so. I attacked two large ones taking 800 casualties to 200 Chinese casualties. I won't make that mistake again.

SE Fleet

We took Wewak today. The invasion force nears Rabaul (just a couple of days out). KB (now 4 CVs) is one day's sail from Truk, where it will refuel/rearm and sail south to Rabaul.

4th Fleet

1 CarDiv (Akagi & Kaga) is at Kwajalein and has replenished. Invasion forces are nearing Nauru and Ocean Islands.

[Mike Solli]

Oh yeah, I forgot to give the damaged ship update:

Ryujo and Hatsukaze are both on pierside repair at Babeldaob, with an AR in attendance. Both of their flot damage is down to just the major damage and work has started on their sys damage. Once their sys damage is repaired, they will move to the Home Islands for full repair. The Ryujo's air groups have increased their size to the max. She's still retaining Claudes, but will upgrade to Zeros in Japan. They are currently training up the new pilots (35 exp types).

Kongo is one hex from Cam Ranh Bay. She's repaired a couple of points of damage (flot and engine) and will enter into pierside repair tomorrow.

I-123 is crawling along toward home. She still has her load of mines and will drop them in the choke point between Balikpapan and Tarakan on her way home. They won't last long but maybe they'll give Ted a surprise. He won't be expecting Japanese mines there!

[ComradeP]

Mike, you might want to take a look at Q-Ball's AAR to get a picture of the possibilities and difficulties of Allied presence in northern Australia, and the pros and cons of defending the area against a possible Japanese invasion.

As you seem to be a fan of lots of planning, at least as far as economics are concerned, you might want to make several contingency plans for what you will do if the Royal Navy or the US Navy shows up halfway through the operation, or what you'll do if some Allied base was heavily reinforced prior to your landing.

In order for your strategy to work, you'd have to be able to safely extract the good forces post-invasion and move in the less than stellar forces. That sounds like a time when you could in theory be especially vulnerable to Allied naval interdiction, even if KB would be around.

[LoBaron]

*pressing the thumbs for I-123*

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: ComradeP

Mike, you might want to take a look at Q-Ball's AAR to get a picture of the possibilities and difficulties of Allied presence in northern Australia, and the pros and cons of defending the area against a possible Japanese invasion.

As you seem to be a fan of lots of planning, at least as far as economics are concerned, you might want to make several contingency plans for what you will do if the Royal Navy or the US Navy shows up halfway through the operation, or what you'll do if some Allied base was heavily reinforced prior to your landing.

In order for your strategy to work, you'd have to be able to safely extract the good forces post-invasion and move in the less than stellar forces. That sounds like a time when you could in theory be especially vulnerable to Allied naval interdiction, even if KB would be around.

Comrade, yeah I do keep up on Q-Ball's AAR. It gives much valuable info. I also realize that invading Australia is much more difficult than it was in WitP. You can't just take the coastal bases any more and expect to hold off the Great Australian Horde. [:D]

Concerning planning, the Australian invasion would not occur until Java, Timor and Pt. Moresby are safely in my hands. The eastern flank would be covered by the 23 Air Flotilla and the western flank would be covered by the 21 Air Flotilla. I typically don't like KB to be seen in this area but the picture has changed now. With the demise of the Enterprise, all Ted can muster in the Pacific are 2 inexperienced carrier air groups, with the Yorktown coming later this month. I have the Akagi and Kaga guarding the centeral Pacific, with the Junyo to augment them when she arrives (most likely case).

I still plan on having KB support the invasions of Rabaul and then Pt. Moresby. Then, KB will sail past Thursday Island into the SRA to slap Ted around a bit. KB's final destination is Babeldaob, where the replenishment fleet lies. After that, I'm going to see what the strategic situation looks like. My only concern right now is that Ted may try something with his carriers up north. With my current distribution of forces, I wouldn't be able to stop him, but his carriers most likely wouldn't get out intact. I'm forming a sub patrol line up there for early warning.

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: LoBaron

*pressing the thumbs for I-123*

I hear ya, LoBaron. I didn't expect the I-123 to survive the mine hit, but she's still plugging away, though badly wounded. I think she'll go down if someone throws a rock at her.

[Mike Solli]

16 Dec 41

Off the coast of Hawaii, Ted finally got some retribution. An ASW TF hit the I-6 with a depth charge. She too 21 flot damage (0 major) and will head back to the barn.

Malaya

Two Buffalos and 2 Blenheim IVs were shot down for the loss of 1 Zero and 1 wounded pilot. The troops are still crawling forward.

Philippines

I took San Fernando losing 91 troops to 1290 Allied soldiers. I hit another S-boat, bringing the total to 3 in the area. Hopefully, their either at the bottom of the ocean or headed for repairs. Either way, an effective platform is out of commission.

Some pictures to follow....

[Mike Solli]

Here's the I-123. She's currently standing at 28-74(71)-16(9)-0. She's going to dump her mines 1 hex to the NE and move on. Hopefully, that Allied TF headed through the straight will find a present or two.

[Mike Solli]

Philippines

The red arrow is pointing to his forces at Clark Field, who are running away! I expected him to counterattack. I now think Ted's going to combine his forces into one big hairball. Big mistake on his part. You can see what I have at Lingayen, but there's only 2 infantry regiments.

[ny59giants]

Suggestion - It is easier to see what is happening with land combat, or potential land combat, if the hex details are turned off (P) and the ZOC shown (W) in screen shots.  

[Mike Solli]

Malaya

You can see my forces are crawling along, as are Ted's. Looks to me like he's withdrawing to Singapore. I don't see being able to cut any of his forces off, but I'm bombing them to the stone age each day and slowly wiping out his air force. There are no warships to be seen at all in this area. I haven't seen Force Z since 7 Dec. I'm sure it'll rear it's ugly head eventually. [:D]

Note Miri in the lower right corner. I'm dumping supply (to continue to repair the oil fields) and pulling fuel and oil constantly. Right now, the fuel is headed to Indochina. Eventually, it'll be moved to Formosa and on to Honshu.

[Mike Solli]

Japan

Not quite as congested as it was a week ago. The resource pipeline >98% in place and everything is loaded or loading. I'll set it in motion next turn as I've applied the hotfix after this turn was sent. I'll also unload all the resources I have sitting in Tokyo, Osaka and Kobe now that I won't lose any more.

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Suggestion - It is easier to see what is happening with land combat, or potential land combat, if the hex details are turned off (P) and the ZOC shown (W) in screen shots.  

Thank! I'll try it.