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Glad to see an update on this battle, was wondering if it went dark.

[font="Times New Roman"]Dec 26, 1944[/font]

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Things quiet down on the 26th. A few more sub strikes, but the rest of the surface fleets move back and the injured head to port. The Iowas all took some damage, with Missouri getting a good pasting from the IJN. It'll need yard time.

Benkolen falls which allows a bit more pressure on Sumatra. Part of my plan here is not to march direct to Palembang, but take Prebemolith and stop, build it up, and make any use of Palembang problematic. It's nearly destroyed as a production facility, but might still have some reserves he would try to pull. He's already removed CAP and everything from the base.

I'll show some maps in the next few posts.
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 26, 1944
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Sub attack near Taihoku at 87,61

Japanese Ships
PB Okuyo Maru #2, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
E Iki

Allied Ships
SS S-36

SS S-36 launches 2 torpedoes at PB Okuyo Maru #2

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Ground combat at Benkoelen (45,91)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 7000 troops, 102 guns, 144 vehicles, Assault Value = 316

Defending force 3414 troops, 61 guns, 15 vehicles, Assault Value = 108

Assaulting units:
711th Tank Battalion
1st USMC Tank Battalion
11th Australian Division

Defending units:
29th Ind.Mixed Bde /1
1st RF Gun Battalion
14th JAAF AF Bn

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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 27, 1944
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Submarine attack near Wenchow at 89,59

Japanese Ships
CL Kushida, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Rock

CL Kushida is sighted by SS Rock
SS Rock launches 4 torpedoes at CL Kushida

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ASW attack near Kiungshan at 71,61

Japanese Ships
CA Kinugasa
DD Hikokaze

Allied Ships
SS Cisco, hits 5

SS Cisco launches 4 torpedoes at CA Kinugasa
Cisco bottoming out ....

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Ground combat at Benkoelen (45,91)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 8926 troops, 108 guns, 421 vehicles, Assault Value = 316

Defending force 3330 troops, 61 guns, 15 vehicles, Assault Value = 100

Allied adjusted assault: 77

Japanese adjusted defense: 57

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 6)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 5

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), disruption(-), preparation(-)
fatigue(-), morale(-), experience(-)
Attacker: leaders(-), fatigue(-)

Japanese ground losses:
259 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 20 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled

Allied ground losses:
18 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Assaulting units:
711th Tank Battalion
1st USMC Tank Battalion
11th Australian Division

Defending units:
29th Ind.Mixed Bde /1
1st RF Gun Battalion
14th JAAF AF Bn

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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 28, 1944
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Sub attack near Swatow at 79,65

Japanese Ships
xAP Horai Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
APD T-8
xAP Kongo Maru
xAP Koan Maru
xAK Nankai Maru
APD T-12
APD T-10

Allied Ships
SS Sea Dog

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Ground combat at Benkoelen (45,91)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 8892 troops, 108 guns, 421 vehicles, Assault Value = 311

Defending force 2951 troops, 61 guns, 15 vehicles, Assault Value = 77

Allied adjusted assault: 83

Japanese adjusted defense: 11

Allied assault odds: 7 to 1 (fort level 5)

Allied forces CAPTURE Benkoelen !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
1008 casualties reported
Squads: 39 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 31 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 15 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 35 (33 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 14 (14 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 3

Allied ground losses:
31 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
711th Tank Battalion
1st USMC Tank Battalion
11th Australian Division

Defending units:
29th Ind.Mixed Bde /1
1st RF Gun Battalion
14th JAAF AF Bn

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Here is the info screen. A long way to go. Long term I have three priorities:

1. Getting in strat bombing range

2. Securing high VP value base targets (Singers, Chungking, Manila)

3. Trapping large portions of the very forward placed IJA

The next moves will help with 2 and 3 mostly, paving the way to get to 1.

[font="Times New Roman"]Dec 29-31, 1944[/font]

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There is virtually no air or sea combat right now. Just some millrun bombing strikes on Borneo and around the lower PI. A few arty bombardments. That's it.

here is a map showing the next stages of keeping up appearances that I'll continue with recent developments. I'll take Perto Princessa with previously prepped troops. I'll add a brigade onto Panay to challenge Japanese bases there. I'll also walk some troops to Kudat and try to wrest that base from Japanese control.

At the same time, other more important plans are developing in the background. Ships are moving and troops are ready. In the next weeks I'll be loading up and moving out ... [;)]

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I cringe when I consider the amount of time it takes to play late war Allies...not even considering having three games going that are quite active![:(] Bless you.[&o]

It is a monster. Three such games concurrently!!! [X(]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe
I cringe when I consider the amount of time it takes to play late war Allies...not even considering having three games going that are quite active![:(] Bless you.[&o]

You just aggregate stuff - operate in dozens/hundreds of ships instead of single ones, stacks of LCUs, throw excessive stuff around and adjust as needed. Adjusting is done in dozens too[:D]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

I cringe when I consider the amount of time it takes to play late war Allies...not even considering having three games going that are quite active![:(] Bless you.[&o]

Well, this one is pretty sporadic. I'm getting about 2 turns a week on average. I want to get to 3/week. I just want to get plans into action and remember what I was doing between turns. Keeping the rhythm.

Late war Allies aren't as hard as it seems if you choose well what to ignore. I don't really need 123 more LSTs or 78 LC(G)I in SF. I can just leave them there. I don't have withdrawals to worry about, which is my bane with early and mid-war Allies, and my pilot training is massive but under control because so many units are doing it. I just take a turn every two weeks and empty the readies while adding new ones.

I think a defensive war with the Japanese is just as tough in 45. You're constantly shifting to meet threats, looking at recon and SIGINT, re-allocating CAP and setting up strikes. Then if you actually have a big action, you spend half a day replacing all of your KIA/MIA pilots and re-filling air groups.

You basically have t like details to play this game at all. [;)]

[font="Times New Roman"]Jan 1, 1945[/font]

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The turn of 45 arrives quietly. It'll be a few weeks before the next plans come into play.

He is persistently trying to hit my little ladings in the PI at night, but hasn't been trying in the day at all. No luck with his night strikes.

I'm still pecking up North with the B-29s, trying to avoid NF and flak concentrations.

Subs are still taking a toll. Not sure what happens in the late war, but from both sides I feel like Japanese air ASW is less effective in limiting sub actions.

The last ID at Cagayan is wiped out. A lot of troop VPs in this battle as he didn't pull much out at all.

The Puerto Princessa invasion is gearing up and I've been nullifying nearby airfields just in case.
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Jan 1, 1945
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Night Air attack on TF, near Catbalogan at 82,83

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 31 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy: 2 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
LST-603
LCI(G)-440
LST-480
LST-469

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

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Night Air attack on Toyohara , at 124,46

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 45 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-29-25 Superfort x 3

No Allied losses

Resources hits 3

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-29-25 Superfort bombing from 8000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Night Air attack on Toyohara , at 124,46

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 18 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-29-25 Superfort x 3

No Allied losses

Resources hits 5

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-29-25 Superfort bombing from 8000 feet *
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Sub attack near Hong Kong at 78,63

Japanese Ships
TK Kurume Maru, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
PB Kaiun Maru, heavy damage
PB Eiko Maru
PB Spey Maru
PB Seki Maru #3

Allied Ships
SS Spikefish, hits 4

SS Spikefish launches 2 torpedoes at TK Kurume Maru
Spikefish bottoming out ....

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Ground combat at Cagayan (79,89)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 24697 troops, 618 guns, 1689 vehicles, Assault Value = 2743

Defending force 3674 troops, 17 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1

Allied adjusted assault: 410

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 410 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
4078 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 399 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 20 (20 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
2nd USMC Tank Battalion
763rd Tank Battalion
2nd USMC Amphb Tank Battalion
5th Australian Division
2/4th Armoured Regiment
2nd Marine Division
3rd NZ Armoured Sqn
762nd Tank Battalion
5th Marine Division
2nd Regiment
30th Australian Brigade
4th USMC Tank Battalion
33rd Infantry Division
713th Flame Tank Battalion
194th Tank Battalion
77th Infantry Division
CenPac Amphib Tank Brigade
1st Regiment
27th Australian Brigade
223rd USN Base Force
8th USMC Field Artillery Battalion
181st Field Artillery Regiment
XI Corps Artillery
4th Field Artillery Battalion
11th USMC Field Artillery Battalion
IX Corps Artillery
187th USAAF Base Force
249th Field Artillery Battalion
I Australian Corps
XIV Corps Artillery
Eighth US Army
X Corps Artillery
209th Field Artillery Battalion
1st Medium Regiment
251st Field Artillery Battalion
1st RAA Jungle Regiment
5th USMC Field Artillery Battalion
33rd Medium Regiment

Defending units:
3rd Guards Division

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Ground combat at Surigao (81,88)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 2320 troops, 15 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 118

Defending force 3756 troops, 32 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 121

Allied adjusted assault: 99

Japanese adjusted defense: 970

Allied assault odds: 1 to 9 (fort level 3)

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

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

Allied ground losses:
53 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
12th Australian Brigade

Defending units:
1st Ind.Mixed Regiment
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I've been scouring again with recon to scout future invasion targets. Most of Malaya is pretty thin, more so than a month ago, it seems. I'm already planning a landing at Mersing, but I may extend that to a few other targets aiming to isolate the troops at Singers, further isolate the many troops still on Sumatra, and to add to support for a landing at Victoria Point as a follow on. Singkawang is being built up to support and host some 2Es, sweepers and recon.

ORIGINAL: obvert


Subs are still taking a toll. Not sure what happens in the late war, but from both sides I feel like Japanese air ASW is less effective in limiting sub actions.

I have noticed this too, and always attributed to air search radar on the subs. However, the escorts are deadly.

However, I used the Lorna once, it was quite effective but range is so limited.

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: obvert


Subs are still taking a toll. Not sure what happens in the late war, but from both sides I feel like Japanese air ASW is less effective in limiting sub actions.

I have noticed this too, and always attributed to air search radar on the subs. However, the escorts are deadly.

However, I used the Lorna once, it was quite effective but range is so limited.

The Kate is very good, but short ranged too. It dies quickly in the presence of bleeding CAP.

It probably is the increasing effectiveness of the radar.

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: obvert


Subs are still taking a toll. Not sure what happens in the late war, but from both sides I feel like Japanese air ASW is less effective in limiting sub actions.

I have noticed this too, and always attributed to air search radar on the subs. However, the escorts are deadly.

However, I used the Lorna once, it was quite effective but range is so limited.

I was thinking maybe the exposure of the HI to sub patrols (because Allied bases are closer) might mean dispersal and dilution of the Japanese ASW effort? And perhaps the veteran pilots get dispersed among new air groups too?

obvert:

Night Air attack on TF, near Catbalogan at 82,83

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 31 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy: 2 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
LST-603
LCI(G)-440
LST-480
LST-469

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

On the first line of the Peggy losses it shows one being destroyed and five damaged but there are no Allied aircraft involved and flak is covered on the next line.
What caused the first line results - balloons?

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: obvert


Subs are still taking a toll. Not sure what happens in the late war, but from both sides I feel like Japanese air ASW is less effective in limiting sub actions.

I have noticed this too, and always attributed to air search radar on the subs. However, the escorts are deadly.

However, I used the Lorna once, it was quite effective but range is so limited.

I was thinking maybe the exposure of the HI to sub patrols (because Allied bases are closer) might mean dispersal and dilution of the Japanese ASW effort? And perhaps the veteran pilots get dispersed among new air groups too?

In mid 45 I'm still flush with 70exp ASW pilots for both IJN and IJA groups. I have 1200 Helens in the bank, and 350 Kates plus full groups of LR Nells for IJN.

I could saturate areas much more effectively than a few years before, but subs still get through.

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

obvert:

Night Air attack on TF, near Catbalogan at 82,83

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 31 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy: 2 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
LST-603
LCI(G)-440
LST-480
LST-469

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

On the first line of the Peggy losses it shows one being destroyed and five damaged but there are no Allied aircraft involved and flak is covered on the next line.
What caused the first line results - balloons?

Not sure. It wasn't NF, so must be balloons. Good spot.

What do you have to do to get balloons? They're to 6k ft, right?

Mind-messing has posted a lot about balloons, search the forum for his posts on it, and thank him to because I think his efforts got balloons to work at night.[&o]

It is a combination of forts, port and runways I think, the higher the better the density. Most effective against 4E beasts, I don't see them being this effective for the torpedo run...perhaps simply reported on two phases of AA the approach and the final run.

I think combined port + AF size 6 and they can be avoided at 7k. Not sure if the Allies get them

The Allies definitely get them. Works for both sides. Correct on the altitudes as I remember.

ORIGINAL: pharmy

I think combined port + AF size 6 and they can be avoided at 7k. Not sure if the Allies get them

Larger bombers such as the 4Es are more likely to hit the balloons than more nimble and smaller 1Es.