Matrix Games Forums

Have fun! Make sure you check out San Fran, great town (expensive as hell though) [8D]

OK US laptop prices are rudiculous compared to UK ones.

Im in vegas to err hmmm check up on the R&R facilities available to troops on the West Coast....doing personal inspection at moment !!!.

(Also playing my 1st ever poker made the mistake of calling 4 of a kind with a full house last night it wasnt pretty - fortnately it was a $6 limit game !!!!)

In the war nothing happened last turn (yes I took WITP on a 1 gig datakey all the way to the states and am now doing turns again .....sad or wot !!!)

String is up to something both my operations continue apace I spotted a large IJN surface TF near Timor apparently heding north but I wonder if he will try to hit Darwin again !!!

Quiet turn i landed a company of para marines on Namlea to keep String honest about his rear area garrisons I am beginning to suspect that String may (emphasis on may) have committed so much to SOPAC and CENTPAc that he may be short of small garrison forces in and around Kendari.

thats 4 bases I took 3 of them with lvl 1 AF's all without any garrison.

Ground combat at Namlea

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 120 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 11 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Namlea base !!!

may be a trap to suck me in again.....

What Andy failed to mention was that he sent a fleet of barges to Norfolk island. They met DD Uranami last turn which sunk 3 of them and today another 2 while leaving a third burning. Andy also landed at Bali, Malang (java) and Waingapu this turn, the first two being garrisoned while the last was ungarrisoned. The americans stayed on the beaches for now. Another massive air attack on Canton island.[:o]

One of our troop convoys was also attacked by american bombers from Darwin, but they managed to unload yesterday, so damage was light.

I'm feeling like pushing back the inevitable right now. The pressure is high, partly because of my good (atleast i think its good) performance so far, to keep performing good on all fronts, and how to do that against the material superiority of the enemy is a difficult question.

Recon in force nothing more I am merely exploring your defences.

A battalion of US National Guards troops of the 153rd RCT on board a force of Destroyer's will give me the intel I need for future offensives.

If along the way I pick up a few bases so be it !!!!!!

Canton will be shut down I will not tolerate an airbase there on my LOC whatever it costs I will neutralise that Airbase.

OK I have landed on a few more bases in the Celebes sea.

Same method Fast transport a few inf companies on old destroyers into isolated islands.

I also have a Para Bn in Darwin.

This is basically just harrassment until Triphammer and Jackhammer hits home.

I probably should not be trying any offensives given the losses I have taken to my Carrier Air but I will not sit still for the whole of 43 and await my fate.

Newspapers announce that General Lavarack has been appointed commander Celebes sea expidition force.

In other news raids continue to hit Canton and Northen Burma those airfields WILL be suppressed

Andy

OK I suspect Triphammer will be spotted any day now. (Actually the marines will be on the beach tomorrow....)

I have 30,000 men plus incliding 1st USMC Div in harms way and most of my surface fleet lets hope it hits home as those ships are not expendable (I need them for Sledgehammer !!!)

If this is a trap with KB sitting waiting for me then it has been exquisitively baited by String.

I dont think it is but you never can tell......

I expect massive Betty Raids tomorrow at least

ORIGINAL: Andy Mac

OK I suspect Triphammer will be spotted any day now. (Actually the marines will be on the beach tomorrow....)

I have 30,000 men plus incliding 1st USMC Div in harms way and most of my surface fleet lets hope it hits home as those ships are not expendable (I need them for Sledgehammer !!!)

If this is a trap with KB sitting waiting for me then it has been exquisitively baited by String.

I dont think it is but you never can tell......

I expect massive Betty Raids tomorrow at least

The allied commander is clearly delusional... either that or my searchplane crews clearly suck. Perhaps they suffer from the same syndrome the allied crews suffered from when they tried to spot my 400+ ship invasion convoy heading towards Luganville..

Pilot1: Hey Rob, look at all those ships
Pilot2: Damnit Jack, there's too many of them to be real, we gotta cut down on the boose..

or something like that perhaps?

Anyway, no marines on the beaches this day. Only news is that one of my subs sank a barge near new zealand and another batch of men from the 153rd RCT were sent to build Burma railroad

Hmmmm I guess hose old Battlewagons need a lot of juice and decide to refuel 120 miles from the objective.

I am fairly sure I have been spotted in fact I am certain of it despite attempts at misdirection from my opponent.

Aircraft spotted at the airfield in the middle of Timor all LBA ordered to plaster the airfield.

2 full P38 groups on LR CAP over my invasion fleet Operation Triphammer will hit Koepang tomorrow for definite 1st Marines are going to hit the beach.

I dont know how dense the mines are or how strong the coastal defences we shall see.....

Andy

OK landed 15,000 combat trops but my LR CAP aint working I have 6 BB's in harms way plus over 200 other ships and my P38's from Derby are not LRCAPPING Koepang. (I have 144 P38's at Derby attempting this feat unsuccessfully)

2 of my BB'sate torps from Betties at Kendari as a rsult.

I have withdrawn temporarily until I can work out why Range 9 fighters will not LRCAP a range 8 target hex.....

Andy

ORIGINAL: Andy Mac

OK landed 15,000 combat trops but my LR CAP aint working I have 6 BB's in harms way plus over 200 other ships and my P38's from Derby are not LRCAPPING Koepang. (I have 144 P38's at Derby attempting this feat unsuccessfully)

2 of my BB'sate torps from Betties at Kendari as a rsult.

I have withdrawn temporarily until I can work out why Range 9 fighters will not LRCAP a range 8 target hex.....

Andy

IIRC, LRCAP only works at about 2/3s of max range... fat lot of good that does...

Sorry -

Dave

Ack well that explains it they escort my raids in but cannot protect my TF's fat load of good 144 P38's are doing then. I guess I should have tested LR CAP but I assumed when they escorted my Bombers in they had the legs to protect my Battleline.

I suspect my opponent has now massed every betty he has at Kendari if I go back in I could face a multi 100 betty raid all with Torps this game really stinks sometimes my entire strategy in recovering northern aus as a viable base was to allow LRCAP on this invasion.

This is extremely frustrating.

I may well go for it without fighter cover just for the hell of it there aint much else I can do !!!!

I have 3 modern and 3 old BB's committed to this attack the old BB's will probably only take one Torp each to turtle....

In other news Jackhammer proceeds well at least it doensnt need LRCAP !!!!

Thanks ADavidB

Andy

Ran into the same situation in one of my PBEMs. Decided to take the other end of the island first - that can be LRCAP'd. Then used that base to LRCAP Koepang.

FWIW

Aye unfortunately it has a garrison of 40,000 and lvl 9 forts ( i think) this end had only lvl 5 (now 4) and 12000 men hence my decision to hit it.

I may just need to risk itand take my lumps but the combo of a Musashi led Surface TF and lots of betties is not one I am going to enjoy.

Tonight our valiant submarine, I-9, was sunk just southwest of Koepang. Her loss was not in vain though, as she reported a large battlefleet approaching our base. When morning dawned our ships and airplanes were ready. Launched already during the night, nine betties approached the battleline directly from east, sunrise concealing them before they were just within torpedo launch range. BB South Dakota took a torpedo and a large explosion was reported.

They were then swiftly taken under fire by our ships, with BB Musashi in the lead. BB's North Carolina and South Dakota were both hit with numerous 18" shells. Meanwhile BB Kirishima duelled with BB New Mexico, and was hit by two 14" shells, which penetrated her armor belt. The 14" shells fired in return didn't seem to cause any significant damage, it's quite probable the the much thicker belt of the older and slower battleship held.

Our heavy cruisers duelled with the enemy battleships and while achieving several hits, none penetrated.

The enemy quickly fled, after suffering heavy damage to the two of the newest ships in the fleet. While on retreat the covering destroyers were taken under heavy fire by Musashi and Kirishima and DD McCall was sunk while DD Blue and Sterret were both heavily damaged.


[center]

BB Musashi hits DD McCall with her 6.1" secondary battery[/center]

Day Time Surface Combat, near Koepang at 28,77

Japanese Ships
BB Kirishima, Shell hits 5, on fire
BB Musashi, Shell hits 3
CA Chokai, Shell hits 2, on fire
CA Kumano, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CA Kinugasa, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Arashio, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
DD Yamagumo, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Harukaze, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Hayabusa, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
BB New Mexico, Shell hits 4
BB North Carolina, Shell hits 9, on fire, heavy damage
BB Washington, Shell hits 6
BB South Dakota, Shell hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
CA Northampton, Shell hits 4, on fire
CL Danae, Shell hits 3
CL Dragon, Shell hits 5
DD Chevalier, Shell hits 2
DD Welles, Shell hits 1
DD Walke
DD Blue, Shell hits 18, on fire, heavy damage
DD Ralph Talbot, Shell hits 1
DD McCall, Shell hits 12, and is sunk
DD Sterett, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Wilson, Shell hits 1
DD Le Triomphant
DD Inconstant


The enemy got a small vengeance when 140 of their bombers bombed our training airfield at Kunming, destroying 45 aircraft on the ground. Luckily no pilots were killed and replacement aircraft are plentiful.

My replacement Battle line goes in tonight backed by a heavy DD force and PT oats are on the way I had him at 2:1 and lost in that night engagement despite excellent leaders

The RN has a go at Musashi tonight

I guess Andy will continue to get more and more frustrated.

I CBA to write a nice AAR so I'll just paste an edited CR of the most important actions

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/04/43

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Koepang at 28,77

Japanese Ships
BB Kirishima, Shell hits 8, on fire, heavy damage
BB Musashi, Shell hits 2
CA Chokai, on fire
CA Kinugasa, Shell hits 8, on fire, heavy damage
DD Harukaze, Shell hits 16, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
BB New Mexico, Shell hits 1, on fire
BB Washington, Shell hits 3
CA Northampton, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CL Danae
CL Dragon, Shell hits 2
DD Chevalier, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Welles, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
DD Walke
DD Ralph Talbot, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
DD Sterett, on fire, heavy damage
DD Wilson
DD Le Triomphant

Andy gets a small revenge by crippling Kirishima even further, but still Musashi continues unscathed and DD Ralph Talbot is sunk. DD Blue, damaged from yesterdays action also sinks 60 miles southwest of Koepang

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 28,78

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 2
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 14
Ki-21 Sally x 28

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27 Nate: 2 destroyed
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 6 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 5 destroyed, 8 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning: 5 damaged

Allied Ships
BB Resolution
CLAA Van Heemskerck, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CL Emerald
BB Idaho
AP J. Franklin Bell

Aircraft Attacking:
All x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 6000 feet

His LRCAP isn't all that effective


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 28,78

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 2
G4M1 Betty x 15
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 20

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 8 damaged
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 7 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning: 2 destroyed

Allied Ships
BB Idaho, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Scout
BB Resolution

Aircraft Attacking:
All x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet

BOOYAH! Scratch another BB for a few months.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 28,78

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 9
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 20

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning: 9 destroyed

Betties turned back

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 27,79

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21 Sally x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 2 destroyed, 13 damaged

Allied Ships
AK Empire Bunting
CL Nashville, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CL Birmingham
CA Vincennes
ML Weehawken

Aircraft Attacking:
ALL x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 6000 feet

With exp in the 80's my sally pilots can actually hit something.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Koepang at 28,77

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 3
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 18
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 30

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 11
PB4Y Liberator x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 6 destroyed
PB4Y Liberator: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Kuma

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x PB4Y Liberator bombing at 10000 feet

Tonies are deadly for unescorted bombers


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Koepang at 28,77

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 3
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 17
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 30

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter Mk 21 x 3
P-38G Lightning x 2
B-25J Mitchell x 17
B-24D Liberator x 23

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 2 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 4 destroyed, 8 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufighter Mk 21: 3 destroyed
P-38G Lightning: 1 destroyed
B-25J Mitchell: 8 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 1 destroyed, 8 damaged
B-26B Marauder: 6 destroyed

Japanese Ships
BB Kirishima, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
CA Chokai, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
all bombers from 8k feet

Very little additional damage inflicted. Tonies and Tojos can stand up vs Lightnings too


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 27,79

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21 Sally x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged

Allied Ships
CA Chester, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CL Phoenix, Bomb hits 2
CL Adelaide
CL Birmingham

Aircraft Attacking:
All x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 6000 feet

Very good

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 28,78

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 3
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 5
Ki-21 Sally x 18

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27 Nate: 2 destroyed
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 1 damaged


Allied Ships
CA Northampton, Bomb hits 8, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
All x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 6000 feet

Even Better

The more I consider last nights battle the more optimistic I get.

Yes I lost the big gun duel but short of a massive betty raid all my ships will survive.

TH New Mexico gp goes back in to finish the job with the RN TF going in tomorrow.

I have also ordered massive B17 and B24 raids on naval targets there bombs will bounce of his big ships but his screen is hurt and 500lbers will hurt them.

If I take away the screen from the Jap TF then my PT Boats, Subs and DD's should get through with Trps.

And if nothing else Resolution Revenge and Valient all have 15" guns which will penetrate Musashi. It may cost me the gutting of my Battle line but I AM going to finish this one....

The smart thing may be to break off well I am sick of doing the smart thing orders have been passed to all ships engage the enemy in close action to hell with the cost....

A signal has been sent to the RN's Force Y hoist battle ensigns......

Andy

The lackof LR CAP over Koepang hasnt been decisive yet what has been decisive is the way Musashi sails on without getting a dent I suspect more DD's and CL's are arriving now to replace her screen...

Andy