Sqz stands down. The AAR is now concluded. Sqz (A) vs. obvert (J)

[SqzMyLemon]

On a positive note. Kirakira is secured after a second deliberate assault. AAR follows:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Kirakira (116,140)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 6334 troops, 58 guns, 62 vehicles, Assault Value = 123

Defending force 288 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 3

Allied adjusted assault: 34

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 34 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Kirakira !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
374 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 9 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
2nd NZ Brigade
22nd USN Naval Construction Regiment
176th USAAF Base Force
6th RAAF Base Force

Defending units:
II/84th Naval Guard Unit
1st JNAF Coy

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

II/84th Naval Guard Unit Wiped Out at Kirakira by attrition!!!

The construction of an airbase will begin immediately. Next landings are set for Rennel Island and Tulagi which are Allied controlled, but undeveloped.

Pearl now has over 400k in fuel and 1000k in supply. Fuel totalling 300k is en route to Suva. My most forward base at Luganville has 59k fuel and 130k supply. It's been a long haul, but I can finally start moving once the combat LCU's all arrive. Tabiteuea will be invaded before Rabaul because the troops assigned have almost reached Suva. It's going to take at least a month to get everything in place for Rabaul, maybe even two months.

[SqzMyLemon]

Dec. 5/43:

A good day in the air for the Allied cause. A Japanese bombing raid against Normanton goes bad with Betty's arriving prior to an Oscar sweep and no escorts to be seen. The Hurricane IIc's shoot down 23 out of 35 bombers and one Oscar IIb for one Hurricane lost to Ops. There was no damage to Normanton.

I have three amphibious operations occurring in the Solomons right now. Reinforcement of Kirakira and Lunga and the establishment of Allied forces on Rennel Island. I've begun airlifting an American base force to Tulagi as well. I expected an air reaction from Erik during the Kirakira landing that never materialized, with numerous Allied TF's spotted at three bases perhaps Erik will unleash his LBA tomorrow. I've set what CAP I can, but all the TF's are vulnerable.

I've ordered two bombing raids for tomorrow, the targets being the airbases at Munda and Shortlands. I'd like to force the Japanese to have to fly from Rabaul. I'm looking for any tactical advantage I can.

So much shipping is moving right now that bases are back logged trying to unload. Once this initial surge is complete, I'll set up a more efficient system. I've got dedicated fuel/supply CS convoy's heading between San Francisco and Pearl Harbor, next is to set the ones up from Pearl Harbor to Suva. I don't think I can make my move against Rabaul until mid/late January at the earliest.

[ny59giants]

How does Cooktown look?? I've hit Rabaul from there with B-24s just to keep my opponent honest.

[SqzMyLemon]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

How does Cooktown look?? I've hit Rabaul from there with B-24s just to keep my opponent honest.

Cooktown and Cairns are built up, but weakly garrisoned at the moment. I'm in the process of adding additional strength to prevent a Japanese paratroop drop wrecking my day and possibly wiping out large numbers of aircraft. I can't stress enough how weak the Allied rear bases are. I'm not saying they should be fortresses, but the fact I'm worried about paratroop assaults should indicate how weak they are.

As to bombing Rabaul, I'm not keen on tackling the almost 300 fighters currently based there just yet.

As my operations draw out the Japanese air, there will be plenty of opportunities to hit Rabaul. I won't go after it until I stretch the Japanese air defence and some holes appear to exploit.

I should add, I don't want to keep Erik honest. I want him to pin his ears back and come for me. The more he tries raids like he just did at Normanton, the better. I don't want him to worry about his rear bases just yet. The longer he feels they are secure, the sooner he'll leave me an opening. Just like he did in Burma at Chiang Mai.

[SqzMyLemon]

Dec. 6/43:

Erik is definitely coming for Western Australia. Japanese paratroops land at the base between Perth and Kalgoorlie. Three small Australian base forces were caught in strategic mode trying to reach Kalgoorlie. They held, but I doubt they can stop the base being taken.

An enemy DMS was sunk by an American submarine off the coast of Carnarvon and a destroyer was missed north of Exmouth. Allied submarine DL's increased significantly in the area, so Japanese carriers are present.


In the Solomons, the bombing raid against Munda goes as planned with 44 B-24D's hitting the base. The raid against Shortlands is grounded due to weather. There was no Japanese effort to interdict my taskforces unloading at Rennel Island, Lunga or Kirakira. Large numbers of engineer units have reached Luganville, so the next step is to get these units safely deployed in the Solomons to build up a network of airbases centered on Lunga.

Fuel, supply and troops continue to pour into Suva. Fuel and supply at the base have reached 30k+ and 500k+, respectively. The first of another 300k of fuel will start to arrive in a few days.


Thoughts:

I've practically abandoned Western Australia already. I've got an armoured brigade at Kalgoorlie so it's safe from a paratroop assault. I'll reinforce with AA and an Australian division that was slated for Rabaul. Unfortunately, Kalgoorlie's only a level one airbase so it's going to be tough to really put any pressure on the Japanese. It's a long way from Suva to Perth for my carriers, and by the time I'd arrive the Japanese would be ashore and have a strong air presence. I won't risk the carriers here without LBA protection. All I can really do is sit back and watch, but I will do everything I can to prevent the loss of Kalgoorlie.

[SqzMyLemon]

Dec. 7/43:

An Australian AMc is sunk east of Esperance by Japanese submarine. An AM scores one direct and two near miss hits in return.

SS Plunger hits CVE Hosho with a single torpedo off the coast of Carnarvon. Damage appears to be light so I doubt the CVE will be withdrawn. The CVE was embedded in an amphibious TF headed for Geraldton or Perth. I have many submarines in the area and will try to make this expedition costly for Erik.

I continue to rail reinforcements to Kalgoorlie.


In the Solomons, my bombers fly against Shortlands and do moderate damage. No Japanese fighter interdiction. A bit worrisome is the reinforcement of Rabaul. Recon indicates 17 units present now, up from 14 a few days ago. I'm going to try and move here as quickly as I can, but it could be a month before I land at Rabaul. I'll just have to see how things develop.


A large number of AA units are almost in place in Burma. I will be moving against Shwebo and Mandalay soon. I sure hope the AA performs as expected, or else it's going to be a real grind.

[tiemanjw]

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

Dec. 7/43:

An Australian AMc is sunk east of Esperance by Japanese submarine. An AM scores one direct and two near miss hits in return.

SS Plunger hits CVE Hosho with a single torpedo off the coast of Carnarvon. Damage appears to be light so I doubt the CVE will be withdrawn. The CVE was embedded in an amphibious TF headed for Geraldton or Perth. I have many submarines in the area and will try to make this expedition costly for Erik.

I continue to rail reinforcements to Kalgoorlie.


In the Solomons, my bombers fly against Shortlands and do moderate damage. No Japanese fighter interdiction. A bit worrisome is the reinforcement of Rabaul. Recon indicates 17 units present now, up from 14 a few days ago. I'm going to try and move here as quickly as I can, but it could be a month before I land at Rabaul. I'll just have to see how things develop.


A large number of AA units are almost in place in Burma. I will be moving against Shwebo and Mandalay soon. I sure hope the AA performs as expected, or else it's going to be a real grind.

how many troops / guns / AFVs in Rabaul? What does sigint say about units?

[SqzMyLemon]

Dec. 8/43:

A tough day for Allied submarines operating against the Japanese amphibious invasion of Geraldton. I sent a number of submarines into the shallows to try to get at the transports, but Japanese ASW is extremely effective. I lose one submarine and another three are damaged, two heavily. In return, Allied submarines miss a xAK and two DD's, but hit another DMS. Not the kind of exchange I was hoping for, but then operating in shallow water often ends badly for submarines.

Japan lands two divisions and a tank regiment at the base. It will fall tomorrow.

Perth is wide open and I may decide to bail on Kalgoorlie as well. All the big airbases will be under Japanese control and I'll be limited to a level one airbase at Kalgoorlie. Not good odds. I'm really paying the price for the lack of expansion and solid garrisoning of the important bases in Australia.

I can't decide whether to ignore the Japanese or mass and counterattack. The levels of preparation of my ground forces for Rabaul and the Solomons is still pretty low. I could use them to counterpunch in Australia while they build up their preparation levels.

I'm going to rethink how I want to proceed in light of these new developments.

[SqzMyLemon]

ORIGINAL: tiemanj

how many troops / guns / AFVs in Rabaul? What does sigint say about units?

I haven't gotten much SigInt regarding Rabaul. The number of enemy units at Rabaul just went up another five units, totaling 22 now. Frustrating, the delay needed to bring in fuel, supply and troops has allowed Erik to reinforce exactly where I wanted to push. I'll provide a map with more details over the weekend.

[tiemanjw]

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

Dec. 8/43:

A tough day for Allied submarines operating against the Japanese amphibious invasion of Geraldton. I sent a number of submarines into the shallows to try to get at the transports, but Japanese ASW is extremely effective. I lose one submarine and another three are damaged, two heavily. In return, Allied submarines miss a xAK and two DD's, but hit another DMS. Not the kind of exchange I was hoping for, but then operating in shallow water often ends badly for submarines.

Japan lands two divisions and a tank regiment at the base. It will fall tomorrow.

Perth is wide open and I may decide to bail on Kalgoorlie as well. All the big airbases will be under Japanese control and I'll be limited to a level one airbase at Kalgoorlie. Not good odds. I'm really paying the price for the lack of expansion and solid garrisoning of the important bases in Australia.

I can't decide whether to ignore the Japanese or mass and counterattack. The levels of preparation of my ground forces for Rabaul and the Solomons is still pretty low. I could use them to counterpunch in Australia while they build up their preparation levels.

I'm going to rethink how I want to proceed in light of these new developments.

Ignore it... it is costing him fuel, supply, etc to go after an area that really has little value (unless auto victory is on the table). Perth is a long way from everything - let him spend his way into debt.
Also, when you do go to take it back, it should be easier going than, say, Darwin due to the rail line and an effective overland supply route.

[tiemanjw]

I haven't gotten much SigInt regarding Rabaul. The number of enemy units at Rabaul just went up another five units, totaling 22 now. Frustrating, the delay needed to bring in fuel, supply and troops has allowed Erik to reinforce exactly where I wanted to push. I'll provide a map with more details over the weekend.

17 to 22 units could be anything - some AV support, engineers, breaking down large units into smaller ones for R&R, or even better recon. Without more analysis, I would read much into it.

That said, 17 or 22 units is a lot, and before committing to it, you need to have a good idea of what is there. Good news is that Rabaul is a large support base, so a lot of that will be support units, AV support, HQs, and other non-combatants.

[SqzMyLemon]

ORIGINAL: tiemanj

Ignore it... it is costing him fuel, supply, etc to go after an area that really has little value (unless auto victory is on the table). Perth is a long way from everything - let him spend his way into debt.
Also, when you do go to take it back, it should be easier going than, say, Darwin due to the rail line and an effective overland supply route.

I was definitely thinking about the Japanese fuel expenditure for this operation. I guess Erik is confident enough in his position and has the surplus fuel to conduct such an adventure. I'm still leaning towards doing nothing as well. In this case, a response from me would be purely emotional and perhaps not in my best interest. There's the added benefit of knowing these two Japanese divisions are not in the New Guinea/Solomons theatre.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: tiemanj

I haven't gotten much SigInt regarding Rabaul. The number of enemy units at Rabaul just went up another five units, totaling 22 now. Frustrating, the delay needed to bring in fuel, supply and troops has allowed Erik to reinforce exactly where I wanted to push. I'll provide a map with more details over the weekend.

17 to 22 units could be anything - some AV support, engineers, breaking down large units into smaller ones for R&R, or even better recon. Without more analysis, I would read much into it.

That said, 17 or 22 units is a lot, and before committing to it, you need to have a good idea of what is there. Good news is that Rabaul is a large support base, so a lot of that will be support units, AV support, HQs, and other non-combatants.

I'd say he is massing troops to take Port Moresby.

[tiemanjw]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

ORIGINAL: tiemanj

I haven't gotten much SigInt regarding Rabaul. The number of enemy units at Rabaul just went up another five units, totaling 22 now. Frustrating, the delay needed to bring in fuel, supply and troops has allowed Erik to reinforce exactly where I wanted to push. I'll provide a map with more details over the weekend.

17 to 22 units could be anything - some AV support, engineers, breaking down large units into smaller ones for R&R, or even better recon. Without more analysis, I would read much into it.

That said, 17 or 22 units is a lot, and before committing to it, you need to have a good idea of what is there. Good news is that Rabaul is a large support base, so a lot of that will be support units, AV support, HQs, and other non-combatants.

I'd say he is massing troops to take Port Moresby.

That would be great if true... I haven't thought of that. Let him land at Moresby, counter directly into Rabaul. Have fun watching him walk through NG.

[SqzMyLemon]

I hadn't thought of a possible counter-invasion at Port Moresby either. I've currently got 233 AV on hand and forts are nearing level 7, so not an easy conquest. However, the number of Japanese LCU's at Rabaul has decreased to 21, so I'm starting to think Rabaul is being used as a staging point to distribute reinforcements in theatre. There doesn't appear to be any reinforcement of Munda, Rekata Bay or Shortlands. The line in the sand looks to be Rabaul proper.

[SqzMyLemon]

I think we are on the Dec. 11th turn.

Japanese forces continue their aggressive ways in Western Australia. Another paratroop drop, this time at Busselton, I think the base is called? The defence consists of a lone RAAF base force and won't hold long. Allied submarines are having an impact, albeit a rather small one. So far a CVE has been torpedoed, two DMS's and an AV sunk. Not much in the grand scheme of things, but taking out specialty ships certainly contributes to limiting some Japanese options.

Heavy Japanese fighter sweeps against Kalgoorlie, but I have no fighters set to CAP so the enemy whiffs at thin air. I have made the decision to fully abandon Kalgoorlie. The airbase is only level 1, so I'm at a severe tactical disadvantage if I try to contest in the air. I'm not going to throw away aircraft in a fight that doesn't mean anything. I'm also not going to allow my armour to be an easy target. I realize what giving up Kalgoorlie means, but my position doesn't allow me an alternative.

So are the Allies doing anything?

In Burma, I'm days away from starting my offensive to reclaim the Irrawaddy Valley. The last of the AA units are almost in position. I've started to slowly deploy tactical bombers to bases along the Tezpur to Ledo rail line. I do not want to take the Japanese air force head on, but rather draw it out in areas where I can mass local superiority. I'll focus on straining Japanese supply by targeting troops whenever possible, but shutting down airbases will also be high on the list of priorities. The Achilles Heel of the Allied operation will be supply, or lack thereof. I hope seizing Mandalay, being a level 7 airbase, will help draw supply down. I still plan on an amphibious operation to unload a large amount of supply directly at Ramree Island, but will take some time to organize, and more importantly provide enough air support to reduce ship losses.

More Allied troops arrive in the Solomons daily. So far there hasn't been a Japanese response, but the more time I'm allowed to bring in reinforcements, the stronger my position will become. The primary goal is expand as many airbases as possible to allow for CAP and tactical bombing missions. A strong LBA presence will take the heat off my naval units once they are committed. If I can secure both Munda and Rekata Bay quickly, that will add two airbases at level 3 and 2, respectively. I have a number of small amphibious operations in the works to replace the USMC 2nd Division at Rossel Island and the Australian 5th Division at Milne Bay with New Zealand brigades. I've been able to get the devices sorted out for the components of Australian 1st Division, so I can now recombine the unit.

With Christmas Island's airbase capable of handling heavy bombers now, I've been able to start island hopping B-24 squadrons to Fiji. There will be 16 heavy bomber squadrons available to support operations against the Solomons. I should be able to add another eight within a few weeks.

I'm now planning the Solomons campaign in depth. The task of getting the forces deployed to Luganville and Suva is almost complete, although I'm a little short on base forces and aviation support currently. I'll begin organizing shipping requirements and what goes where and when exactly. The entire American carrier force has reached Suva safely. There is another surface TF to put together at Pearl Harbor for deployment to Suva, but I'm lacking destroyers. That will change in three days when I get an insane number of DD and DE reinforcements at Seattle and Balboa. CV Intrepid joins the fleet at Balboa in days.

Fuel at Pearl Harbor has reached 600k and there is now over 1.2 million supply. Suva has 300k of fuel and 500k supply. Luganville is next to start receiving fuel and supply in large amounts.

It's been a long haul, but the Allies are almost ready to start moving. It's been a logistical triumph to get so many units and so much fuel/supply moved forward so quickly. I haven't lost a single transport ship during the entire process. Just a little while longer and the Green Machine will start to flex it's muscle.

[SqzMyLemon]

Another Japanese DMS is sunk by SS Plunger off the coast of Australia. The skipper has bagged two minesweepers so far.

I've deployed more tactical bombers to Dimapur in India. I'll look to knock out forward airbases in China soon. Bombing Paoshan and nearby bases won't directly affect my operations in Burma, but it will eliminate the use of these forward Japanese airbases to influence events.

Taung Gyi is the weakest Japanese airbase I face in terms of the number of fighters, showing only 137 present. I am planning all out bombing raids against the base to coincide with the start of the ground offensive. That will force Japanese fighters to have to operate from Toungoo and Rangoon. Prome will be heavily targeted once Taung Gyi is closed. The enemy ground forces will be extremely vulnerable in clear terrain.

The way I conduct my air offensive will depend largely on how the Japanese respond. I'm looking to avoid Japanese sweeps whenever possible and concentrate on hitting the bases being used to support bombers. If the Allied AA performs as expected, the need to CAP my own forces won't be necessary and I can concentrate on offensive air missions against Japanese targets.

I'm looking forward to the upcoming battle for air supremacy in Burma.


Preparations continue for the Solomons campaign. I'm making a big push to get the engineers and construction units in place to get the airbases expanded around Lunga. I will seize both Munda and Rekata Bay to establish forward fighter cover and draw out the Japanese air force. If the Japanese mount missions against my forward positions, I'll look to target Rabaul's airbase. In light of two Japanese divisions being committed to Australia, I want to strike quickly and steal a march on the Japanese. The most important weapons in the Allied arsenal right now are transports, bulldozers and the shovel.

[Macclan5]

Very very interesting - thank you Sqz...

[8D]

If I surmise correctly:

1) Spotting invasion forces off Western Australia << Geraldton or Perth??>> with a IJN CVE damaged.

2) SigInt demonstrating lots of Rabul activity / lots of units.

3) Lots of units withdrawing or moving around Rabul but no actual troop increases in Shortlands / Munda noted.

4) No spotted counter invasion of Port Moresby

Hmmm... something is up.

Are you secure in Noumea ? Suva ? Is he tossing the dice for a "limited investment SOC strike" to undo your supply and unit rationalization ?

I am assuming that your opponent may be aware of your movements to the offence in Burma but would not use Rabul / Pacific troops there - rather draw from China..

[SqzMyLemon]

Noumea is lightly garrisoned, but Luganville and Suva are packed with air units and LCU's. Any Japanese incursion into SoPac would face 100% of the carriers and 80% of the surface ships in the American fleet.

I think the main defence is at Rabaul and reinforcements are being packaged out to the surrounding bases, but nothing south of Feni.

I don't believe there will be a counter-invasion of Port Moresby, Milne Bay or Rossel Island, but I have received SigInt of Japanese units prepping for Lae.

I think the reverse is true. I worry more about Japanese troops being redeployed from Burma/China to SoPac. The Japanese definitely have no shortage of troops in Burma at the moment.

[Macclan5]

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

I don't believe there will be a counter-invasion of Port Moresby, Milne Bay or Rossel Island, but I have received SigInt of Japanese units prepping for Lae.

Well good luck and hit-em-hard as they say.

I failed to pick up your bulk deployment (navy, land, air) in theater. [8D]

Prepping for Lae would certainly give me pause; as well.

Its curious he is offering an invasion force (or misdirection feint) in Western Australia AND prepping for Lae (and dug in to fight supply and attrition in Burma).

I guess two divisions AND a tank brigade in Perth is considered more than a feint but...its troop levels he can sacrifice for an extended 1945 defense. Given the distances to organize a counter attack in Oz... it takes time.. and that could be his primary goal. Cut rail heads - cut supply lines via Perth....

He is clearly not going to surrender the initiative and dig in everywhere.

Nuisance 'roll the dice' landings to disrupt your SLOC or bog down advances 'prima face' appear to be apart of the strategy.

If something does actually land in Lae perhaps you can counter punch further north...