Nothing Up My Sleeve: Magical Moose Tricks--Bullwinkle58 vs.1EyedJacks

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: obvert

The place I always have some trouble with Allied subs is that spot around Phuket, as there usually isn't as much air support flying there. Around Rangoon itself I usually have several patrols both day and night searching.

Good point. I have long thought/seen there is a "dead zone" in there where Georgetown AF doesn't like to go and Moulmein is a little too far north. The patrol zone thing with subs is the classic case of patrolling close tot he destination in order to increase the chance of terminal interception placed against the fact he knows you know where the terminal point is and will patrol the heck out of it. Moving south opens the bandwidth as it were on his routes, but I do need to lighten up on the shallow water by the river mouth.

[Bullwinkle58]

August 20, 1942

Air Strike, Rangoon

1) The sub war near Rangoon gets serious. Patrol zones re-adjusted south and to deeper water, but before the boats can position many fleet DDs jump on O24 in two attacks and sink her. Halibut is also worked over farther south. S-39 takes three hard hits near Mergui. Elsewhere, near Denpasar, SS KXIII puts one in xAK Terukawa Maru. Sinking noises heard later.

2) Today, most Allied air in the Burma theater is aimed at Rangoon in an attempt to flood the zone and whittle down CAP ops points. The carriers, Wasp and a slightly damaged RN hull (don't recall which) move in close to the coast NW of Bassein. Rangoon shows 65 fighers in residence. I figure a lot will escort the troop bombing, but there will be at least 20-30 at home. In a gamble, all Wildcats on Wasp are sent to escort the strike, which is limited to four hexes. LRCAP from Ramree and Prome will try to help, and one small squadron of Sea Hurricanes is left off the RN CV. It's a gamble he doesn't have standing 2Es on naval/torpedo every day, but it's a one-day thing. Won't work twice.

An expensive attack starts the run, but it does the job of using up some CAP.

Morning Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4
A6M3 Zero x 7
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 11

Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 6
B-24D Liberator x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 damaged
Ki-46-II Dinah: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IV: 3 destroyed
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 1 destroyed by flak

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 10

High-naval-skill 2Es go after ASW DDs. There is no LRCAP on them, and no hits.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Mergui at 51,61

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 7

Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
DD Asagumo
DD Suresushio

The other Rangoon strikes do not fly. Not many, but they don't. Too small I think. Then the naval effort comes in. The RN carrier does not launch any of its Albacores, a key to the attack plan. Probably due to lack of escort. Trade-off, trade-offs.



It works through the CAP pretty well, but the newer Zeros do get at the SBDs at the end. Unfortunately, despite multiple runs on a nice CA, and two destroyers, damage is light. The xAK will sink, but I had hoped for a lot more. Still, this tactic complicates the defense problem for Japan at Rangoon. He can either withdraw the permanent bombardment force, or assign a lot more CAP, which lets me get at the bombers troop-bombing more easily.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Rangoon at 54,53

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4
A6M3 Zero x 6
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 8
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 10

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 36
SBD-3 Dauntless x 33
TBF-1 Avenger x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed by flak
SBD-3 Dauntless: 4 destroyed, 11 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 7 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
CA Myoko
xAK Hirota Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
DD Akebono
CL Isuzu
xAK Hukuzyu Maru
CL Natori
CA Furutaka

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
14 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
7 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
9 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

3) Some of the MUTTLEYS are very close to the rally hex and will close its hexsides in 1-2 days. It remains to be seen if enough is left after the troop bombing. About 250 are lost today. I have a contingency plan in mind if the attack on Moulmein fails.

4) DD Fortune, fleeing Soerbaja, is overcome by flooding half-way to Batavia and sinks.

5) Soerbaja is supply bombed. At the dot hex being attacked to open supply routes to Batavia, Japan has move din a full division and the attempt fails badly. Soerbaja is sitting at about 11,500 supply with no air ops or construction at all.

Ground combat at Soerakarta (53,103)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 708 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 40

Defending force 12745 troops, 120 guns, 32 vehicles, Assault Value = 437

Allied adjusted assault: 10

Japanese adjusted defense: 502

Allied assault odds: 1 to 50

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

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

Allied ground losses:
145 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 26 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
3rd KNIL Landstorm Battalion

Defending units:
33rd Division

6) Rabaul AF goes to Level 6. A key to keeping the B-17s repaired. Their HQ is co-located, supply is six-figures, av support is lavish. Now they need to fix themselves so Truk can be re-visited. More 4E units, mostly B-24s, are coming soon. Rabaul is going to be a major PITA.

7) The second attack on Chungking is made. Forts drop a level to 6; they can't be repaired with 420 supply on hand. Japan loses a lot of men. China loses a lot of men. Time continues to tick by.

Ground combat at Chungking (76,45)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 196891 troops, 1988 guns, 1324 vehicles, Assault Value = 8091

Defending force 167485 troops, 1155 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 5144

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 6

Japanese adjusted assault: 8642

Allied adjusted defense: 11211

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 6)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
17562 casualties reported
Squads: 50 destroyed, 1725 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 164 disabled
Engineers: 9 destroyed, 270 disabled
Guns lost 160 (3 destroyed, 157 disabled)
Vehicles lost 165 (7 destroyed, 158 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
4745 casualties reported
Squads: 32 destroyed, 212 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 128 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 28 disabled
Guns lost 90 (3 destroyed, 87 disabled)

Assaulting units:
24th Division
39th Division
12th Indpt Infantry Regiment
4th Brigade
28th Engineer Regiment
41st Division
3rd Division
10th Tank Regiment
40th Division
102nd Infantry Regiment
58th Division
20th Engineer Regiment
104th Division
37th Division
5th Armored Car Co
23rd Tank Regiment
13th Division
8th Armored Car Co
23rd Division
12th Tank Regiment
9th Ind.Mixed Brigade
35th Division
36th Division
3rd Tank Regiment
51st Engineer Regiment
11th Indpt Infantry Regiment
9th Armored Car Co
1st Ind.Mixed Brigade
5th Tank Regiment
17th Division
2nd Ind.Mixed Regiment
11th Tank Regiment
9th Tank Regiment
34th Division
13th Tank Regiment
20th Recon Regiment
60th Division
116th Division
6th Division
4th Ind.Mixed Brigade
3rd Ind.Mixed Brigade
26th Engineer Regiment
4th Mortar Battalion
North China Area Army
1st Mortar Battalion
14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
8th Ind. Engineer Regiment
2nd RF Gun Battalion
2nd Ind. Engineer Regiment
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
5th RF Gun Battalion
21st Mortar Battalion
51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
11th Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
5th Army
1st Army
26th Field Artillery Regiment
52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
11th Army
10th Mortar Battalion
10th Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
7th Chinese/A Corps
45th Chinese Corps
40th Chinese Corps
68th Chinese Corps
51st Chinese Corps
2nd Chinese Corps
8th Construction Regiment
16th Chinese Corps
14th Construction Regiment
3rd Chinese/C Corps
34th Chinese Corps
33rd Chinese Corps
41st Chinese Corps
36th Chinese Corps
47th Chinese Corps
92nd Chinese Corps
3rd Chinese/B Corps
75th Chinese Corps
14th Chinese Corps
1st Chinese Cavalry Corps
3rd Chinese/A Corps
91st Chinese Corps
39th Chinese Corps
67th Chinese Corps
12th Construction Regiment
32nd Chinese Corps
7th Chinese/B Corps
7th Chinese/C Corps
49th AA Regiment
Lusu War Area
13th Group Army
18th Artillery Regiment
China Command
3rd Construction Regiment
37th Group Army
22nd Artillery Regiment
5th War Area
1st Artillery Regiment
2nd Construction Regiment
10th Chinese Base Force
20th Artillery Regiment
21st Group Army
2nd Group Army
CAF HQ
26th Group Army
1st Construction Regiment
1st War Area
41st AA Regiment
1st Chinese Base Force
5th Chinese Base Force
8th Group Army
3rd Heavy Mortar Regiment
4th Heavy Mortar Regiment
7th Artillery Regiment
22nd Group Army
Central Reserve
57th AT Gun Regiment
56th AT Gun Regiment

8) Chinese leadership has ordered several low-level, unsupplied LCUs, such as Construction Regiments, out of Chungking to take hexsides in all directions and complicate siege supply. One tries to move across a river when it shouldn't have, and gets clocked.

Ground combat at 77,45 (near Chungking)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 740 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 5

Defending force 5856 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 211

Allied adjusted assault: 0

Japanese adjusted defense: 258

Allied assault odds: 1 to 99

Combat modifiers
Defender: leaders(+)
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(-), supply(-)

Allied ground losses:
454 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 33 destroyed, 2 disabled

Assaulting units:
10th Construction Regiment

Defending units:
59th Infantry Brigade

[Bullwinkle58]

Hexside control around Rangoon and Chungking.

[Bullwinkle58]

August 21, 1942

Out In the Bush

1) Scrounged-up AM sweeps ten mines at Ramree. My guess is there's one sub load there, so this might be close to it. Regardless, the AM is left alone to work.

2) Intense ASW activity around the Irrawaddy delta, but all but one sub have shifted zones. O23 is attacked but suffers no hits. The Allied carriers, with the Wildacts back on 100% CAP for a day, withdraw to an offshore patrol route. The RN birdfarm needs to withdraw in about ten days, so this will be a short-term move.

3) The troop bombing takes about 350 men. Scraps of CAP left up from yesterday's carrier effort take down about seven 2E enemy. MUTTLEY is close to the next phase. Probably very clear now what's up to Japan.

4) Chungking AF gets its daily dose, destroying or damaging over a score of already damaged planes. They still train pilots with holes in them; there's no supply to fly them and no0place to retreat them to. So, they bounce. The Chinese scraps out in the bush are closing four hexsides at or near Chungking, and Japan is moving to deal. The construction reg. hit yesterday is erased today for about 425 KIA. Another unit closing the road to the west toward Kumming is hit and retreats into the mountains to the north.

Ground combat at 72,47 (near Kweiyang)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 4418 troops, 22 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 168

Defending force 270 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 163

Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 163 to 1

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

Allied ground losses:
75 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 13 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units retreated 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
60th Infantry Brigade

Defending units:
3rd Group Army

5) Three B-24s from Wake hit Kwaj AF for a second day and see Claudes on CAP. This might be oversight, might be lack of 20k to swap, might be AF size. Recon keeps showing a CV at Kwaj. Doubt it, but maybe. Eniwetok is harassed, but forts continue to build toward Level 5. Supply is still fine.

6) Supply bombing at Soerbaja and PBang. The East Africans at Lahat get a single Sally raid most days; it's been months sine they had a casualty. I don't get Sumatra. I get constant intel of big LCUs prepping for PBang and Soerbaja, but they don't come. It's nearly September. The B-24 pools are growing, the Wildcats are over 40 in the pool, SBDs are solid, lots of Cats, etc. Lack RAF anything and not enough P-38s, but things are better than a month ago.

[Bullwinkle58]

[center]***BIG NEWS!!!!!***[/center]



DreamWorks Animation to Produce New ‘Rocky & Bullwinkle’ Short
by Daniel Goldblatt

DreamWorks Animation announced Monday they are producing an all new
short film “Rocky & Bullwinkle,” which will be released sometime in
2014.

The short, featuring the legendary June Foray as the voice of Rocket
“Rocky” J. Squirrel, is being directed by Gary Trousdale, produced by
Denise Nolan Cascino, and written by Thomas Lennon & Robert Ben
Garant. It stars Foray as the voice of Rocket J. Squirrel and Tom
Kenny (aka SpongeBob SquarePants) as the voice of Bullwinkle Moose.

“For an incredible 83 years, June Foray has left a tremendous imprint
on the entire entertainment industry,” said Executive Producer Tiffany
Ward. “Her amazingly indelible performances have enchanted generations
and earned her a permanent place in the annals of popular culture.”

Studio also announced a March 7, 2014 release date for “Mr. Peabody
and Sherman,” which features more classic characters from the “Rocky &
Bullwinkle” universe.

http://variety.com/2013/film/news/dream ... 200794532/

[Bullwinkle58]

August 22, 1942

Jabbing and Ducking

Turns now seem as if they're being played during the overture, waiting for the main show to start. Mostly sub action today, and some Japanese curb-stomping.

1) Little AM Oudh continues to clear mines at Ramree with a dozen more today. Along comes I-166 and Oudh goes all ASW on its behind, applying four hits, including two penetrating.

Further ASW activity south of the delta as IJN ASW chases the new patrol zones. Halibut and Trusty are worked on, but no damage.

2) On the deep water line north of Jesselton Growler sinks xAK Shikano Maru. At Denpasar SS KXIII sinks PB Akitsui Maru in the morning, then xAK Kasagi Maru in the afternoon.

3) Off Burma the Allied carriers are patrolling NE/SW. A Mavis finds them and is shot down. Hope I've counted hexes properly.

4) RO-34 penetrates as far north as Cox's Bazar and is found by AM patrols. The supply line back to CT through Bombay is bursting with supplies now, accumulating due to spinners at Calcutta, and being shoved into Chittagong by thousands per day. Chittagong is the lifeline for the entire Burma/MUTTLEY effort during the monsoon. If he sends subs up here there will be losses, but acceptable. Calcutta has three good ASW TFs working from it in the triangle with Chittagong, although the supply TFs go unescorted.

5) Burma troop bombing takes several hundred more. The Tavoy refugee Indians are attacked and wiped out south of Moulmein. A Chinese corps was two days from getting to the hex to help. Hexside control south of Moulmein has swung back to the enemy.

Ground combat at 56,56 (near Moulmein)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 5820 troops, 37 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 209

Defending force 826 troops, 9 guns, 11 vehicles, Assault Value = 19

Japanese adjusted assault: 176

Allied adjusted defense: 5

Japanese assault odds: 35 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
49 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
839 casualties reported
Squads: 38 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 54 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 9 (9 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 16 (16 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
19th Ind.Mixed Brigade

Defending units:
26th Indian Brigade

6) Chungking is bombed. One Lancer lsot, some damage. The construction regiment wiped out yesterday in hexside control games is back in the arrival queue for about ten days out. Two more out-of-supply construction units are sent out. Meanwhile those out already get the Japanese to do things like this. Fun.

Morning Air attack on 4th Construction Regiment, at 77,44 , near Chungking

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 37

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
37 x Ki-43-Ic Oscar bombing from 100 feet


7) PBang fort-building has been shut down for a long time, stalled in the mid-30s. But the effort is taking circa 100 2Es a day, with AA taking a couple every day plus 10-20 damaged. The aircraft loss ratio continues to grow in the Allies' favor, and without a lot of CAP loses. One raid shown below. Note that supply in PBang remains nailed at about 212,000, day after day. LCUs have no fatigue and high morale. This effort is just stopping forts, nothing more.

Morning Air attack on Palembang , at 48,91

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 20
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 64
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 11 damaged

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

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 8

8) In the DEI near Denpassar the DO-24Ks and the Cats attack unloading TF three times. No hits, one Cat lost to an 11-Oscar CAP.

9) Central Java the LCU sent out to open a line to Batavia is smashed by a full ID, which takes back Soerakarta dot. Back to the drawing board.

Ground combat at Soerakarta (53,103)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 12765 troops, 120 guns, 32 vehicles, Assault Value = 439

Defending force 600 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 24

Japanese adjusted assault: 187

Allied adjusted defense: 16

Japanese assault odds: 11 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Soerakarta !!!

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

Allied ground losses:
334 casualties reported
Squads: 11 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 9 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units retreated 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
33rd Division

Defending units:
3rd KNIL Landstorm Battalion

[JocMeister]

You still hold Palembang? [X(] Wow, thats a big achievement. I thought you lost it some time back. Must have it confused with something else. Thats pretty much game over for him soon then...

[Bullwinkle58]

August 23, 1942

Low Energy

Turns dragging right now. Not much going on. Same bombing runs as always, sweeps over open skies, pretty much waiting on MUTTLEY.

1) Lots of inconsequential sub and ASW work off Burma.

2) About 200 casualties from troop bombing in Burma.

3) Continued plane bombing at Chungking. Keeping attention off the troops.

4) Most of the MUTTLEY troops reach rally hex north of Moulmein. Aussie 7th trailing. Will move a chunk in to hold the side.

5)Various small Allied bombing missions don't amount to anything.

6) Repair and building. Waiting for ships. Waiting for planes.

7) At what point does your average moose go to multiple-day updates? The world wonders . . .

[JocMeister]

I mix them. Usually depending on if I have the time to update after each turn or not. Any of course if much is happening or not! [:)]

Also in a really slow rut right now. Mostly just waiting for stuff.

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

I mix them. Usually depending on if I have the time to update after each turn or not. Any of course if much is happening or not! [:)]

Also in a really slow rut right now. Mostly just waiting for stuff.

Us too. I don't know if Mike's waiting for me to impale myself or if he has big things happening where I can't see, but time is moving along and he doesn't have the fuel to finish a full GC. I made a commitment to do a diary AAR, so I probably will continue as before, but many turns now are just ASW and the normal bombing and nothing else. It's fine for Japan to sit and wait for the Allies and defend a perimeter, but in this game Japan never took all the phase one objectives.

[JocMeister]

Its really odd that he doesn´t throw everything into getting PB. He need to get that or his industry will collapse in 43. Right? I can´t remember but didn´t someone do the calculations on when the Japanese deadline was for capturing PB? Early 43 something?

Autumn of 42 really is slow. In my other PBEM we just hit 11/42 after 3 months of almost no action except the usual allied micro grabs here and there. That game has turned out really odd in general...can´t wait to get the AAR going on that one again.

[obvert]

It boggles the mind why Palembang hasn't been at least attempted. Maybe there is something we just don't know, but it's worth more than any spot on the map in 42-43 outside the Home Islands or the West Coast. Maybe he is thinking the oil/fuel will still be sitting there for him to suck out after he finally grabs it, but I'm sure some will have spoiled and you might have pulled a portion out by then as well.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

You still hold Palembang? [X(] Wow, thats a big achievement. I thought you lost it some time back. Must have it confused with something else. Thats pretty much game over for him soon then...

+1

That's over 1/3 of the IJ economy missing without it ... irreplaceable. You've just about won this game. If you can get an aussie/US/marine ID to PB now, it is game over. Fortress PB works and it is, compared to other tactics like Mersing, one of the very few that actually has long term consequences. With +lvl4 forts he will need +9 ID's to take PB ... and he will still need months to do so, by then you will have Hellcats, he likely would never take it.

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

You still hold Palembang? [X(] Wow, thats a big achievement. I thought you lost it some time back. Must have it confused with something else. Thats pretty much game over for him soon then...

+1

That's over 1/3 of the IJ economy missing without it ... irreplaceable. You've just about won this game. If you can get an aussie/US/marine ID to PB now, it is game over. Fortress PB works and it is, compared to other tactics like Mersing, one of the very few that actually has long term consequences. With +lvl4 forts he will need +9 ID's to take PB ... and he will still need months to do so, by then you will have Hellcats, he likely would never take it.

There is one US Army ID there already. The 32nd.

It is bombed daily and fort-building is stalled at about 4 +32%. The AF is closed and there are no planes in residence. But he loses a couple of bombers a day plus ops losses to pretty heavy flak every day too. That's an HI suck over time, and pilots.

I haven't pulled fuel out in a long time. Oil is converted to fuel, some of which spoils, and supply rests at about 215,000. He destroys some every day, more is made. The troops in garrison are fully supplied in the white.

There was a landing on the west coast many months ago, but never followed up. The last recon I had showed about one ID there, but I think it's empty now. Lahat is bombed about every day from the north for no damage. IT has the East Africans holding the train station with Forts 2. It's still a dot base. Just a speed bump to stop the rail transit a few turns.

PBang has lots and lots of engineers now, so an attack might wreck it, or might not. Almost all of the Batavia garrison has been moved over in addition to a Brit division, the 32nd, and various small armor and arty units. Lots of HQs too.

At some point he can't run the fleet and I guess it's on me to come closer and engage. I'll do that eventually. But right now it's all on Burma and MUTTLEY. Interesting, but most of the map is asleep.

[Bullwinkle58]

August 24, 1942

Another Day

1) Subs/ASW inconsequential.

2) Chinese portion of MUTTLEY reach rally hex north of Moulmein and are sent on in. Aussie 7th and a couple of trailing units are about 60 miles away. Will see if Moulmein does probing attacks. Supply there will become precious and I expect more TFs to run the gauntlet.

3) Troop bombing takes normal cuts. Several hundred. Many of the raids are unescorted today, coordination problems I think as some are, and a light CAP of about six takes down a half-dozen 2Es.

4)Chungking is still having damaged planes bounced by more raids. None of them can fly, but the combat report makes it look like new airframes are being fed in and then destroyed. In reality it's the same junk day after day getting more holes. I didn't used to be aware of this habit of the Combat Report until one PH raid gave me 180+ Cats damaged and I realized each "damaged" was one hole or ding, not a different plane. At Chungking the focus on the AF leaves the troops alone. There is no supply in inventory to destroy at the AF despite reports. The 400/day produced organically goes straight into LCU internal stocks. The infantry is mostly in the white or high red. The arty is lowish, some of the AA is out, some has a bit.

5) Tojos come in at 100 feet at PBang and sink an MGB.

6) Several small, orphan units are out in the Chinese wilderness causing supply trouble. They can't reach Chungking, so they sit on vital roads and rails. One is hit today and retreats into better terrain.

Ground combat at 71,48 (near Kunming)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 9093 troops, 56 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 336

Defending force 2228 troops, 31 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 68

Japanese adjusted assault: 325

Allied adjusted defense: 49

Japanese assault odds: 6 to 1

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

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

Allied ground losses:
746 casualties reported
Squads: 24 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 15 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 5 (5 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
68th Division

Defending units:
2nd Chinese Cavalry Corps

[PaxMondo]

OMG .. lvl4Forts, 2ID++ ... he would need 12 ID's or more to take it now ... and he will wreck most of them in the process ... i would be conceding about now. Seriously, it's that bad.

[DOCUP]

This makes the AFB inside me smile and giggle like a school girl.

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: DOCUP

This makes the AFB inside me smile and giggle like a school girl.

Just, please, no dresses. [:)]

Another turn back. Moved the FAA torpedo bombers to Pt. Blair off the retiring RN carrier headed for Colombo. Four good B-24 units headed for Rabaul. The B-17s there already continue to rest. Truk is reconed daily. If it goes as a re-fueling option the Marshalls will be hard to defend. I just need two more carriers or CVE equivalents.

I wonder in retrospect when this is over if having 160,000 troops at Rangoon/Pegu/Moulmein, and 130,000 or so camped at Chungking will have been the best use for them. Rangoon only matters if the oil from up-country is Japanese. It has never been Japanese in this game. Rangoon holds open the Burma Road, but he has the other end in strength, plus all of the Chinese countryside beyond. Supply wouldn't flow to Chungking even if the Road were open. He has sea control on the Burma coast. Rangoon could be evacced across to Sumatra. That stack could take PBang most likely, with the air assets he has. Some of the Chungking stack could get to Hong Kong easily and he has sea control all along the Indo-China coast to Singers and then Sumatra. The troops are available. He has to have the fuel or the economy tanks. But so far, nothing.

[Bullwinkle58]

August 25, 1942

A Small But Mighty CAP

Another day of slow progress toward battle. Some interesting events though.

1) A lot of sub activity off Moulmein/Tavoy. There is a tongue of deep water just off-shore of Moulmein which I like to make one zone pivot, and there are fleet DDs hanging there too. Three uneventful encounters, then USS Halibut is hit eight times, two penetrating, for severe damage. Don't know yet. Pt. Blair is available for an emergency pier.

RO-61 is worked over herself off Talsea for four good hits. Several duds in the strait north of Balikpapan. Some fuel is escaping from that port, with only PBs for help. If ever I get Mk 14s that work . . .

2)Soerbaja is supply bombed, but is hanging in there with 11,000. I still have two cruisers trapped here. Put them at the pier to try and see if I could get better System repair (they're both at 99), but engine increased dramatically even without bombing and even as non-major flooding decreased. Odd, but that's the world of 99 system damage. Put them both back on the blocks.

To the west one little LCU is approaching the next effort to force open a path to Batavia for supply suck.

3) Yesterday the daily air losses were 28 for Japan and low single digits for the Allies. One pilot at Prome shot down nine 2E in one day, almost a daily double-ace. Getting a few Kittyhawks in, a few Lancers with remarkably good Chinese pilots (in the 70s mostly; been training for eight months.) The Lancer is a decent little bomber-killer.

Today about 2/3 of Japanese raids come in unescorted, and the mini-Cap feasts again. One bad escorted raid in Burma kills 250 troops, but the rest are hit hard. Probably at least fifteen more 2Es downed, and a few Zeros. Watched each animation all the way through and it seems as if the defense ratings of the bombers have gotten worse. Might be pilot skill, might be fatigue from the daily grind that's gone on for months now.

(Server just went Blooie. Had saved. So now I continue in Edit mode.)

An example.

Morning Air attack on 90th Chinese Corps, at 56,54 , near Moulmein

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-Ia Helen x 16

Allied aircraft
P-66 Vanguard x 2
Hurricane IIb Trop x 2
Hurricane IIc Trop x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-Ia Helen: 2 destroyed, 4 damaged

No Allied losses

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

4) Chungking AF bombed again. Junk bounces some more. [:)] This is the best ten-fighter investment I ever made. The troops are recovering little by little.

5) Heavy weather turns back the AM raids from Port Blair on passing supply TFs. In the afternoon the Albacores fly and put a bomb into one xAK. The high-skill B-26 unit there misses, but I still have hopes.

6)Two days before withdrawal the Chittagiong B-17s hit the LCU south of Moulmein that killed the Tavoy Indians. Light damage. Not enough damage as this LCU now kills a small Chinese unit trying to sneak by and plug the road from Tavoy. The hexes south of Moulmein are Japanese again. May not be helped. I need to shut down the AF at Moulmein more than I need to plug the retreat route. Can't wait.

Ground combat at 56,56 (near Moulmein)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 5780 troops, 37 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 209

Defending force 3459 troops, 37 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 80

Japanese adjusted assault: 306

Allied adjusted defense: 53

Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1

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

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

Allied ground losses:
963 casualties reported
Squads: 29 destroyed, 17 disabled
Non Combat: 47 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 8 disabled
Guns lost 7 (1 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Units retreated 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
19th Ind.Mixed Brigade

Defending units:
77th Chinese Corps

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

ORIGINAL: DOCUP

This makes the AFB inside me smile and giggle like a school girl.

Just, please, no dresses. [:)]

Another turn back. Moved the FAA torpedo bombers to Pt. Blair off the retiring RN carrier headed for Colombo. Four good B-24 units headed for Rabaul. The B-17s there already continue to rest. Truk is reconed daily. If it goes as a re-fueling option the Marshalls will be hard to defend. I just need two more carriers or CVE equivalents.

I wonder in retrospect when this is over if having 160,000 troops at Rangoon/Pegu/Moulmein, and 130,000 or so camped at Chungking will have been the best use for them. Rangoon only matters if the oil from up-country is Japanese. It has never been Japanese in this game. Rangoon holds open the Burma Road, but he has the other end in strength, plus all of the Chinese countryside beyond. Supply wouldn't flow to Chungking even if the Road were open. He has sea control on the Burma coast. Rangoon could be evacced across to Sumatra. That stack could take PBang most likely, with the air assets he has. Some of the Chungking stack could get to Hong Kong easily and he has sea control all along the Indo-China coast to Singers and then Sumatra. The troops are available. He has to have the fuel or the economy tanks. But so far, nothing.

Maybe, but the truth is PB is the IJ target for Dec 7, 1941. Everything else is diversion and to secure your LOC to PB. As the IJ, you must land there mid-Dec and take it (or be in a position to prevent reinforcements and forts to be built up). Either way in a PBEM, you are going to suffer damage to those facilities but you must take it. Medan, Balik, Miri, etc are important, but PB is not an option. I want Singer, Rangoon, Batavia, Sorbaya, and Manila/Clark mainly because they are 4E bases in range of the oil fields; so take them ASAP. Blitz really is the byword.

Sending the KB to the DEI is prolly going to be the best opening move long term for the IJ players going forward. PH was a grand diversion in reality and it worked perfectly. But with hindsight, it loses that diversion capacity. With the KB in the DEI, the pace of the blitz can be doubled or more. You can take Java, Sumatra, Darwin, and Rangoon in Jan ... you still have 2 months of landing bonus left, now where do you go? Fear the IJ! [;)] [:D][:D][:D]