The Turning Point: floydg (A) & Coach Z (J) -- Luganville liberated

[floydg]

This the situation around Perth:


A = Transports, one hit by the SS Pickerel
B = Japanese carrier, most likely the CV Junyo
C = Surface force of about 10 ships, including mostly CA; and another TF of transports
D = AO limping away
E = Australian brigade on the way back to Perth and also blocking the land route in

At Perth I have 3 Coastal Artillery units, a full Infantry division and a BF, along with 16 Wirraway, 16 Beaufort V and 16 Dutch B-25C. There is a SCTF there now, including a damaged BB, 2xCLAA and 5xDD.

[floydg]

Here is the summary of aircraft losses so far:



Lots of A6M2's downed, and a decent number of Oscars. But he doesn't seem to be flinching from it. And now he has Tojo's (15 lost so far) and Tony's (51 lost so far)... My F4F-4 numbers have been skyrocketing, as I lost about 200 in the past month or so.

[ny59giants]

Perth - Looks like you should be in good shape as long as your troops have been prepped to 100%. What are your supply levels, Assault Value, and fort levels?? If that Bde is on the way there, it should allow you a land retreat path if needed.

Noumea - he is losing pilots along with planes over "your" base. It is a battle of attrition that you will win eventually. Let him come to you and as your surviving pilots gain experience, you will eventually make it too costly for him.

Both these attacks look like they could be his last big push. Noumea is the more important of the two, IMO.

[floydg]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Perth - Looks like you should be in good shape as long as your troops have been prepped to 100%. What are your supply levels, Assault Value, and fort levels?? If that Bde is on the way there, it should allow you a land retreat path if needed.

Forts of 6, division with 346 AV is 48% prepped (came from India), over 200K supply, total AV is 464 with CD and BF.
He is also marching to Perth over-land with some units, but is presently 16 hexes out [but on a rail line].

Noumea - he is losing pilots along with planes over "your" base. It is a battle of attrition that you will win eventually. Let him come to you and as your surviving pilots gain experience, you will eventually make it too costly for him.

Maybe so. I can only assume that these are his last good pilots (that damned A6M2 squadron). And once I get P-38's next month, things may level off.

Both these attacks look like they could be his last big push. Noumea is the more important of the two, IMO.

I hope this is his last gasp.

But he doesn't really have a chance at Noumea. I hold La Foa with enough troops and level 8 forts to block his advance by land and at Noumea itself, I have 200+ AV 70+% prepped with level 9 forts. I also tried to invade at Koumac, but he had a division there, which fouled up those plans (I was hoping for BF, Eng and maybe a Naval Guard unit), but at least it slows down his supply to La Foa. I'm also a little curious why my troops are still at Koumac - he hasn't attacked in force in over 10 days since I arrived.

I will probably lose Efate in under a week, though.

[floydg]

September 7, 1942

Highlights: Surface combat at Perth

• A Japanese surface fleet enters Perth harbor during a cloudy night. The Allies have a task force laying in wait. The Allies surprise the Japanese and get in a few good shots before the Japanese can respond. It is 2xBB, 4xCA, CL, 4xDD for the Japanese and BB, 2xCLAA, 5xDD for the Allies.
  The BB Ise is badly damaged; the BB Hyuga takes 15 shell hits, but none reportedly penetrate the armor; the CA Kinugasa is badly damaged, as are the DD Akuzuki, DD Suranuhi and DD Akebono.
  The BB Resolution is seriously damaged, as is the CLAA Capetown. The CLAA Columbo, DD Stuart, DD Tjerk Hiddes and DD Foxhound are sunk.
  The Japanese then bombard Perth harbor and score four hits on the CV Formidable, docked.
• At Adak Island, the Allies locate and sink the MSW W.21 and AK Nichizui Maru.
• Allied aircraft at Perth strike incoming transports and put a torpedo into the CL Kuma, escorting some ships and a torpedo hit on the retreating BB Ise.
• Japanese troops attack at Efate and make further advances on the fortifications, reducing them to 1, but took over 1100 casualties to just under 400 American.
• Japanese make another attack at Ichang and again make progress, but take over 1800 casualties to under 1000 Chinese.
• Chinese make another push at Pakhoi and make a little headway.
• Spotters report Aomori increases its port to level 9 and Palau to level 6, while Hilo increases to level 4.

Analysis: The engagement at Perth was going well for a while, but then turned sour for me and I lost a CLAA and three DDs. I did do some damage to him, but not enough to safely defend the port now. I gotta scramble some ships from India and the Australian east coast now, but they will surely be too late. And he has the CV Junyo hanging there, making matters worse. All I can hope for is the port is well-defended enough to block his attempt.
It looks like Efate is in trouble, as may be Ichang. But he's been working on Ichang for 4 months now, so I did hold out well at a base not really critical.
On the bright side, there were no strikes on Noumea, so my planes were able to repair a bit (and not lose any). Maybe his groups are too tired, too banged up or both.

[ny59giants]

You were outnumbered 6 to 1 in heavy ships (BB & CA). Plus, it was at night. Hopefully, some are more badly damaged than you think and don't make it back to a large enough port. Maybe your Beauforts can help out.

[floydg]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

You were outnumbered 6 to 1 in heavy ships (BB & CA). Plus, it was at night. Hopefully, some are more badly damaged than you think and don't make it back to a large enough port. Maybe your Beauforts can help out.

Go Big Blue!

I think the BB Ise may be in trouble and a few of the DD's. I can only hope for awful damage control.
And the Beauforts have finally woken up for me and scored some hits.

I'm guessing he may abandon the invasion now, since the mouse-over's on the TF's report a direction going back north.

[ny59giants]

As an Allied player, I love my Beauforts. [&o][:D][&o] One of my reason for playing more on RHS and Nemo's Empire's Ablaze is the range is 9. Thus, if a bombardment TF comes to a base with an AF size 4 or larger, I get a chance to strike back.

If you don't go here for your Giants fix, you should. It is one of the most active. Big Blue Interactive

[floydg]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

As an Allied player, I love my Beauforts. [&o][:D][&o] One of my reason for playing more on RHS and Nemo's Empire's Ablaze is the range is 9. Thus, if a bombardment TF comes to a base with an AF size 4 or larger, I get a chance to strike back.

Wow. Stock is extended 5 hexes and normal 4. Almost makes me not covet the Betty's and Nell's as much.

If you don't go here for your Giants fix, you should. It is one of the most active. Big Blue Interactive

Nice. Bookmarked that one.

[floydg]

September 8, 1942

Highlights: Efate holds

• The SS I-157 encounters a transport TF at Baker Island. Her torpedoes miss a transport, but the escorts score a direct depth charge hit on her.
• Allied planes at Perth attempt to hit transports still north of the port and score no hits.
• Japanese carriers planes then attack the ships at Perth harbor and put a bomb on the BB Resolution.
• 14 Hurricanes from Nanning attack Japanese shipping evacuating troops at Pakhoi. 13 Tony's intercept and shoot down three planes, but the remain planes shoot up the AK Kokko Maru scoring 12 cannon hits and 1 bomb hit.
• The Japanese attack again at Efate, but the defenders are ready for the attack and the Japanese take over 900 casualties to under 300 Americans.
• The Chinese make a determined attack at Pakhoi, but the Japanese continue their paced withdrawal and the Chinese cannot force them to abandon their positions.

Analysis: Looks like he found my invasion fleet at Baker Island. I'm sure he knows that I'm up to something, but at this point, if I delay, it gives him time to react. So on with the show... At least I blasted one of his subs.
No further advances towards an invasion of Perth. But it does look like he accidentally dropped off some troops about 10 hexes north (and he's not happy about that - so much grumbling). I have some combat ships on the way, but I expect that they'll be too late now.
Efate held, but the supply is too low and disruption too high to survive now.

[floydg]

September 9, 1942

Highlights: BB Hiei and CA Haguro hit

• North of Efate, the SS Narwhal found the MSW Kaiyo Maru #1 and sunk her with a torpedo.
• South of Brisbane, the SS I-33 locates the AK Empire Hawksbill puts three torpedoes into her and then surfaces and hits the ship twice with the deck gun before it sinks.
• 47xB-24D attack Wake Island and are met with a CAP of 13xTojo and 14xNick. One Tojo is downed as are 3 bombers. Virtually no damage is done to the airbase.
• 10xHurricane attack the Japanese ships at Pakhoi and the 22xTony on CAP down 9 of the fighters and the one that survives misses an AK.
• North of Perth, 3xB-25C attack the retreating CA Atago. The 12 A6M2's protecting the ship didn't notice the bombers and they each scored a hit on the cruiser, but none appeared to have penetrated the armor.
• American planes from Noumea strike Japanese ships NW of Koumac. The 31xSBD and 15xTBF score 8 bomb hits and torpedo hit on the BB Hiei, leaving her in flames. A second attack puts 3 bombs and a torpedo into the CA Haguro, and a final run puts another bomb onto the BB Hiei.
• Another Japanese ship retiring from Perth is attacked. The CL Kuma takes four torpedo hits from Beaufort V-IX and sinks.
• At Amchitka Island, two Japanese minesweepers are attacked by B-25C and B-26B and the MSW Misago Maru #11 takes two bombs and sinks.
• East of Canton, the Japanese attack and the Chinese break and retreat NW and some of the Japanese armor pursues the Chinese.
• The Japanese attack again at Ichang, removing the last of the fortifications around the city and each side takes just under 900 casualties.
• In order to break the blockade of Ichang, the Chinese attack west of the city and are slaughtered, taking almost 1300 casualties to 150 Japanese.
• Chinese attack again at Pakhoi and appear to take out the last of some remaining units, which have not yet been evacuated.
• South of Sian, Chinese attack a single Japanese infantry unit and forces it to retreat east.
• In the northern reaches of China, the Chinese attack three Japanese unit and the Japanese hold their positions.

Analysis: He's up to something around the New Caledonia area with a BB and CA cruising around, but it looks like those plans are dashed as these ships now need to retire for a long repair period... [:D] Maybe Norfolk Island is an inviting target for him.
The ships retreating from Perth got hit again, but now he's falling back a bit.
In China, his armor may be close to breaking my lines, so I may have to shift troops around now. My Hurricane's were wiped out by Tony's, so I'll have to bring in some more fighters from India.
He knows I'm on my way to the Gilbert Islands, but hasn't struck my transports yet, so I'll keep lumbering on in. First wave is an infantry division, second wave is a base force and loads of supply and then followed by a fighter squadron and some engineers to build up the airfield & forts and repair damage.

[floydg]

September 10, 1942

Highlights: Efate and Ichang on their last legs; two Japanese DD's pounded at Koumac

• North of Perth, the SS Stingray attacked a Japanese AP and when it surfaced to check on the damage, it realized that there was none and one of the escorting DD's noticed the sun and shot a salvo of torpedoes at it and one connected and sunk the sub.
• At Koumac, two Japanese DD's encountered three American PT boats. The PT boats again got the better of the Japanese, seriously damaging the DD Hato and wounding the DD Kiji. The PT PT-84 was shelled and sunk. Later, SBD's put a 1000 lb bomb in the DD Hato.
• The CV Saratoga's TF, on the way back to Pearl Harbor in the area of French Frigate Shoals, located the SS I-158. Before the sub could spot the carrier, the escorting DD's pounced, scoring two direct hits and a few near misses.
• For some unknown reason, parts of a Japanese Baseforce recently evacuated from Pakhoi unloaded from the ships. The Chinese were puzzled, but a few corps wiped out the Japanese.
• West of Dutch Harbor, two MSW locate the SS I-165 and hit it twice with depth charges and then followed the oil slick for a little while and then attacked again, scoring another hit, sinking the sub.
• 7xB-25C take off from Perth and locate the smoking BB Ise and plant another bomb on the deck.
• In China, the Japanese armored units again attack north of Canton and the Chinese fall back again, with the tanks in pursuit.
• The Japanese reduce the last of the fortifications at Efate and the situation there looks bleak.
• At Ichang, the Japanese attack again and again, the Chinese hold their tenuous positions.
• NW of Canton, one Chinese unit misunderstands orders and attacks the Japanese while all other Chinese watch in amazement. The attack fails and over 200 Chinese suffer for their General's mistake.
• The airfield at Umnak Island expands to level 3.

Analysis: The invasion of Apamama is still a "go". The troops should hit the beaches next turn and I'm sure Coach Z knows they're coming, as he complained about the lack of LBA attack on them.
And to further frustrate him, my PT boats again riddled his DD's at Koumac. He ranted on about that a bit (and referred to his contribution to the AE Naval Thread II). [:o]
Looks like two of his subs are gonners, but I lost one. Strange that the sub surfaced and ate a long lance, but that's the second sub I've lost that way this game.
Efate and Ichang are both close to falling to the Japanese. I can't believe either held on for so long, so I have few regrets except that I didn't do more to save them. And I could have. [:(]

[floydg]

September 11, 1942

Highlights: CV Junyo hit; Anpamama invasion gets lost

• At Koumac, 5 PT boats encounter a PC and two AK at night. The PC Ch 15 takes a shell and a torpedo hit, and the AK Hirokawa Maru takes two shells and a torpedo before the task forces break off.
• Japanese conduct an air raid on Noumea from Luganville. 29 escorting fighters and 52 bombers take on a CAP of 31 planes. The Americans lose the air battle with only 9 enemy planes downed, with a total of 30+ Allied planes destroyed in the air and on the ground, most being fighters.
• The Anpamama invasion force is attacked by 5 Vals from Tarawa with no effect, but 13 Nell and 29 Betty from Kwajalien ravage the ships, scoring a torpedo hit on the AK William Dawes and AK Ethel Edwards, 4 on the AK J.L. Luckenbach (later sinks), one on the DD Waters, DD Balch and APD McKean, and 4 on the DD Smith (later sinks). Some troops aboard the ships are casualties.
  The PG Nikkai Maru attempts to intercept, but is pummeled by the escorts and sink, but in a stroke of massive confusion and misdirection, the task force wanders too far from the invasion point and the troops cannot disembark.
• 6xB-25C from Perth attack the CV Junyo and while two are shot down by CAP, two score deck-penetrating bomb hits on the carrier.
• NW of Koumac, the O23 takes a shot at the CVL Zuiho, but the captain is rushed as the escorts close on him, and the shot is wide.
• The Japanese armored units in southern China attack again and force the Chinese unit to move north again.
• NW of Canton, the Chinese attack, but the Japanese were able to cut off a large number of attackers and the Chinese took over 1900 casualties to just under 300 Japanese.

Analysis: The heroes of the turn for me are the Dutch B-25 pilots that nailed the Junyo. Coach Z complained that the only reason the carrier was still there was to protect the troops the game erroneously dropped off north of Perth. Hopefully I won't see the Junyo for a while now.
We also saw more PT boats at Koumac ravaging his ships.
And then things got worse...
The air raid on Noumea wiped out way too many of my planes which will be tough to replace the fighters now. [:(]
And then the Anpamama invasion TF got blasted by torpedoes; and before they could unload, a single PG arrives, gets sunk, and then the task force leaves the target hex and moves one hex AWAY from the home port (and closer to enemy LBA). WTF??? [:@]
And to top it off, my 1-on-1 in China takes almost 2000 casualties for me.
Ugh.

[floydg]

September 12, 1942

Highlights: Efate falls; Apamama invasion lost again; Adak attack disaster

• Two PT boats arrive at Koumac and find a damaged PC Ch 15 and AK Hirokawa Maru. Both are sunk by the PT boats.
• At Apamama, the Allied transports return, but the PG Edo Maru is patrolling there. The escorts sink the PG, but again, the commander is spooked at the invasion force retires.
  Later, Vals put a bomb on the APD Stringham.
• 126 4E bombers from Townsville attack Port Moresby. 29 bombers are shot down by the 57-plane CAP, but the bombers are able to take care of 10 enemy planes in the air and on the ground.
• 11 B-24D attack Attu Island. Two are shot down by CAP and slight damage is done to the airfield.
• The AK Burma Maru is spotted at Koumac and bombers from Noumea score two 1000 lb hits on her.
• Bettys from Luganville attack a transport TF at Noumea. The 16-plane CAP takes down 5 Zeros and 2 Bettys, but the remaining 15 put two torpedoes each into the AK William Luckenbach, AK Wallingford and AK Susan Luckenbach. The troops on the ships suffer some casualties.
• Near Gili-Gili, the SS S-39 puts a torpedo into the AK Tsukubasan Maru.
• In south China, the Japanese armor attack again, and again, the Chinese fall back.
• The Japanese make an attack at Efate and the defenses finally crumble and the commander orders a general surrender.
• NW of Canton, the Chinese attack again because the commander accidentally read an old communique. The Chinese take over 1700 casualties to under 500 Japanese.
• The Americans attack at Adak Island, but the attack was so poorly coordinated, the Japanese easily held and the Americans took over 1600 casualties.

Analysis: What a terrible turn...
I lost Efate, but that was inevitable. I got most of a big BF out at the last moment (and I really needed that aviation support at Noumea), so I'm not all that sad. The only concern I have now is that these Japanese troops could make a play for Noumea, which won't be good. So I'm pulling back some troops to boost the AV at Noumea.
Again, the Apamama invasion force chickened out. Has anyone seen that before where a single PG shoots the whole invasion force away? Fortunately, my ships didn't get pummeled again, but I am losing valuable surprise time, so soon he may be able to put up a proper defense.
At Adak Island, I can't believe the terrible rolls I got:

Code: Select all

Ground combat at Adak Island
  
 Allied Deliberate attack
  
 Attacking force 14610 troops, 108 guns, 11 vehicles, Assault Value = 437
  
 Defending force 10366 troops, 31 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 238
  
 Allied max assault: 351 - adjusted assault: 9 
  
 Japanese max defense: 231 - adjusted defense: 1297 
  
 Allied assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 0) 
  
  
 Japanese ground losses:
 13 casualties reported
  
 Allied ground losses:
 1630 casualties reported
 Guns lost 40
 Vehicles lost 8

[floydg]

September 13, 1942

Highlights: Apamama invasion repulsed again; BB Ise sinks

• South of the Japanese Home Islands, the SS Pollack is attacked by an ASW task force and takes some damage, requiring her to return to port.
• Near Apamama, the CL Kashii and DD Yukikaze intercept the American invasion force at night. First they encounter a small group of damaged ships. The DD Balch and AK Ethel Edwards take heavy damage (both later sink due to massive fires) and the DD Waters and APD McKean are sunk outright. The CL Kashii takes a few hits. The Japanese then find the main force and sink the DD Ellet and heavily damage the DD John D Ford. The escorts are able to sink the DD Yukikaze, however, before again breaking off.
  At Koumac, five PT boats locate the AK Burma Maru and sink her.
• North of Perth, the SS Permit locates the AO Tsurumi (and another AO plus escorts) and puts one torpedo into her, causing the fuel cargo to catch on fire.
• Japanese troops attack again at Ichang, making some progress against the Chinese, but taking over 1300 casualties to under 750 Chinese.
• SE of Changsha, a single Chinese cavalry unit was probing the Japanese, and the two Japanese divisions and mortar battalion attacked, which forced the Chinese to retreat back to Changsha.
• The Allies attack at La Foa, but the Japanese hold, taking 675 casualties to just over 800 Allies.
• Reports of Japanese ships being spotted sinking include the DD Hato, north of Koumac; the SS I-158, near Johnston Island; and last but not least, the BB Ise, north of Perth.
• Spies report that the airfields at Toyama and Port Moresby both expand to level 5.

Analysis: He ravaged the escorts for the invasion, so now I only have 3 servicable DD's left, which really isn't much if I need to take on more of his ships (and I'm running low on ammo after hitting the DD Yukikaze 62 times). I also see a ground unit there now, so he most probably dropped a parachute unit, since there is no airfield. Best thing now is to just abandon the invasion and chalk it up as a lesson learned about coming in too light.
The high points were the sinking of another sub (21 out of 57, I think, which is over 1/3 of his sub force), and the sinking of the BB Ise, which he said didn't make it due to bumbling damage control.
I'll be starting to move on Andaman Islands soon and then Wake. Hopefully this will get him to keep shifting focus around and lose some of his initiative. Or cause me to lose more and more ships and troops...

[floydg]

September 14, 1942

Highlights: Lost a sub; Air combat over Noumea was to my favor!

• The PT PT-67 hits a mine at Koumac and sinks. Later, 10xAnn attack the other PT boat (PT-128) and sink it with 5 bombs.
• At the NW corner of Australia, the SS Permit takes two direct depth charge hits and the crew surfaces and abandons ship.
• 16 Bettys, escorted by 22 fighters attack transports unloading at Noumea. Four A6M2, 5 A6M3 and 7 Betty are downed to only three American fighters. The transports are un-damaged.
• Japanese bomb Thursday Island, causing a little damage, but notably taking down about half of the base's fighter cover.
• The Japanese armor that is deep into Chinese territory attacks a Chinese Corps, causing almost 150 casualties and takes no force reduction itself.
• Japanese attack again at Ichang, taking over 1800 casualties to under 800 Chinese.
• NE of Yenen and close to the Russian border, the Japanese attack a Chinese Corp and cause them to retreat back toward Russia.
• Noumea's port expands to size 7 and Kodiak's port expands to size 4.

Analysis: I have abandoned the invasion of Apamama and it appears my transports have escaped with no additional damage.
Lost a sub... drat. [:(] Lost 7 subs so far, but that pales in comparison with what he lost, so I don't feel so bad. And I just got a load of Gato class subs, so I really can't complain.
I get the feeling that Thursday Island may be his next target, so I'll need to beef things up there a bit.
I will make a run on Andaman Islands in the next week or so. I hope.

[floydg]

Here is where things stand in China:



I am seiging Canton, but making little progress. I have several more corps on the way from the west now.
He is seiging Ichang and making decent progress, since I'm blocked from getting supplies in and now the forts are down to 0. I'm trying to break the blockade, but not having much luck.
I have secured Pakhoi and Nanning, so the southwest is secure. I'm thinking to advance on Hanoi and Haiphong, but I'm concerned about activating the militia, giving him more AV...

[ny59giants]

16 Bettys, escorted by 22 fighters attack transports unloading at Noumea. Four A6M2, 5 A6M3 and 7 Betty are downed to only three American fighters. The transports are un-damaged.

Looks like good news here. You lose planes, but not too many pilots. [:)]

[floydg]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

16 Bettys, escorted by 22 fighters attack transports unloading at Noumea. Four A6M2, 5 A6M3 and 7 Betty are downed to only three American fighters. The transports are un-damaged.

Looks like good news here. You lose planes, but not too many pilots. [:)]

Yes, it's good not to lose the experienced pilots, but I have more pilots than planes, it appears. My US Army pool is almost 1000 and US Navy and US Marines each over 200. My "front line" fighter plane pool for the same group is under 100 total.

[floydg]

September 15, 1942

Highlights: Allied CAP does the job

• The SS Peto encounters two Japanese ML at Apamama, but torpedoes miss them before the sub has to dive to avoid an ASW attack.
• Japanese bomb Kweilin with 18xVal and 13xLily, escorted by 30xTojo. They are met by 9xSpitfire. The Spitfires flame 3 Val, 2 Tojo and 1 Lily with no damage to their numbers. Then 14xSally and 24xTony attack and the Spitfires down a Tony and lose one of their own. Light damage is done to the airfield in both attacks, but crews have it all cleaned up quickly.
• 70 Allied bombers hit Adak Island and cause over 100 casualties.
• Northeast of Mandalay, the Japanese bomb the troops blockading the road. Over 50 bombers come in unescorted and the 7 P-40E's down 8 of them.
• Southwest of Hengchow, a Chinese corps attacks the Japanese armor and reportedly only takes out one tank, while suffering over 50 casualties on their own.

Analysis: My CAP did well this turn, taking out 14 planes and only losing 1.
My invasion of Andaman Islands is up in the air, since I'm concerned about his Betty's at Rangoon. I may wait for the weather to turn bad and then move in.
I have about 110 bombers at Dutch Harbor, ready to make his troops at Adak Island uncomfortable.
And I now have almost 100 ready at Noumea to hit Luganville. I have about 100 more on the way. I hope that this will start turning the tide...