THE WAR COLLEGE-Rio Bravo (A) v. El Lobo (J)

[Rio Bravo]

ORIGINAL: Commander Cody

Next time I'm at the Changsha Airport I'll have to schedule enough of a layover to check out the Tianxin Pavilion. Good stuff!

Cheers,
CC

Commander Cody-

I really enjoy Captain Haggard's Bloomquist descriptions of China battlefield locations.

Your business takes you to Changsha now and then?

Best Regards,

-Terry

[Rio Bravo]

[center]After Action Report

for October 29, 1943[/center]


Highlights for Today


1.) There were numerous naval, air, and ground combat actions today; all but one of them minor in nature and losses by either side.

2.) The Allies deliberately attacked Hengyang and inflicted substantial Japanese casualties while suffering minor casualties.

3.) El Lobo has landed a substantial amount of ground forces on Formosa and intelligence indicates that he is also building-up Apari, Iriomote, Ishigagi, and Naha. There is no immediate need, but within a couple weeks the Allies will commence flying the 4th Marine Division from Amoy to Takao. If need be, the 3rd Marine Division will also be flown to Takao.


Synopsis of Combat Action for Today


1.) Allied PT Boats hammer a Japanese SC near Taihoku (hex 88,63).

SC Ch 35: 13 shell hits; heavy fires; heavy damage.

No Allied losses.

2.) Japanese E Boat rocks an Allied Submarine near Hengchun (hex 84,68).

No Japanese losses.

SS Pompon: 6 hits.

3.) Allied Submarine trashes a Japanese xAKL near Miyako-jima (hex 92,66).

xAKL Taisoku Maru: on fire; heavy damage.

No Allied losses.

4.) Allied PGs dent Japanese Submarine near Ramree Island (hex 52,47).

SS I-171: 3 hits.

No Allied losses.

5.) Allies bomb Moulmein.

17 Japanese Casualties.
1 destroyed (Ki-44-IIc Tojo).

1 destroyed and 3 damaged (Liberator GR.III).
1 destroyed (B-17E Fortress).
1 damaged (B-17E Fortress).
1 destroyed and 8 damaged (B-25C Mitchell).
2 damaged (B-25D1 Mitchell).

6.) Allies bomb near Paoshan (hex 64,45).

59 Japanese Casualties.
5 destroyed (Ki-44-IIc Tojo).
6 destroyed (Ki-45 KAIa Nick).

2 destroyed (P-47D2 Thunderbolt).
2 damaged (B-24D1 Liberator).

7.) Japanese bomb near Kweiyang (hex 75,50).

No Japanese losses.

49 Chinese Casualties.

8.) Japanese bomb Chungking.

No Japanese losses.

12 hits (Manpower).
6,409 (Fires)

9.) Japanese bomb Taichu.

4 damaged (Ki-49-IIb Helen).

3 hits (Airbase).
1 hit (Airbase Supply).
4 hits (Runway).

10.) Japanese bomb Allied YMS near Pagan (hex 110,89).

1 damaged (G3M3 Nell).

No Allied losses.

11.) Allies bombard near Paoshan (hex 64,45).

140 Japanese Casualties.

13 Allied Casualties.

12.) Allies deliberately attack Karenko.

147 Japanese Casualties.

78 Allied Casualties.

13.) Allies deliberately attack Hengyang.

8,348 Japanese Casualties.
4 Units destroyed.

214 Allied Casualties.


Attached below as a link is the entire photos of Bella Arbel on a nude beach of a lake just outside of Changsha.

Best Regards,

-Terry

[CaptBeefheart]

ORIGINAL: Rio Bravo

ORIGINAL: Commander Cody

Next time I'm at the Changsha Airport I'll have to schedule enough of a layover to check out the Tianxin Pavilion. Good stuff!

Cheers,
CC

Commander Cody-

I really enjoy Captain Haggard's Bloomquist descriptions of China battlefield locations.

Your business takes you to Changsha now and then?

Best Regards,

-Terry

I only actually deal with Shanghai and Beijing, but I once had to connect through Changsha on the way to Bangkok. It had the feeling of an airport that would service a 350,000-person city in the U.S., while Changsha actually has over 7 million people.

On the air loss screen, I think Rusty would like to see it sorted by "Total."

EDIT: Another way to get those Marines across the Formosa Strait is to use barges. They'll be necessary for the heavy stuff.

Cheers,
CC

[Rio Bravo]

ORIGINAL: Commander Cody

ORIGINAL: Rio Bravo

ORIGINAL: Commander Cody

Next time I'm at the Changsha Airport I'll have to schedule enough of a layover to check out the Tianxin Pavilion. Good stuff!

Cheers,
CC

Commander Cody-

I really enjoy Captain Haggard's Bloomquist descriptions of China battlefield locations.

Your business takes you to Changsha now and then?

Best Regards,

-Terry

I only actually deal with Shanghai and Beijing, but I once had to connect through Changsha on the way to Bangkok. It had the feeling of an airport that would service a 350,000-person city in the U.S., while Changsha actually has over 7 million people.

On the air loss screen, I think Rusty would like to see it sorted by "Total."

EDIT: Another way to get those Marines across the Formosa Strait is to use barges. They'll be necessary for the heavy stuff.

Cheers,
CC

Commander Cody-

I've never been anywhere in China. I think it would be interesting to see Beijing and Shanghai as you have.

Yes, well, the problem is I don't have any undamaged ships within the vicinity of Formosa to make a barge. I am just happy that I took some troop transport aircraft to Formosa.

Thank you for steering me in the right direction; I think I now have the screenshot Rusty requested and will post it next post.

Best Regards,

-Terry

[Rio Bravo]

Rusty-

Is the following the screenshot you wanted in reference to aircraft losses?

Best Regards,

-Terry

[Rio Bravo]

[center]After Action Report

for October 30, 1943[/center]


Highlights for Today


1.) Allies amphibiously invade and capture Almagan (Marians Islands).

2.) Captain Haggard's Submarines sink two Japanese xAK near Miyako-jima.

3.) Allies bomb Moulmein (Burma), due west of Paoshan (China), and Pagan (Marianas Islands).

4.) Japanese bomb Kweiyang (China) and Taichu (Formosa).

5.) Allies bombard due west of Paoshan (China).

6.) Allies shock attack Hengyang (China) and deliberately attack Karenko (Formosa).


Synopsis of Combat Action for Today

1.) Allied Amphibious Invasion at Almagan.

Allies capture Almagan.

464 New Zealand Casualties.

2.) Allied Submarines torch 2 Japanese xAK near Miyako-jima (hex 91,65).

xAK Taibun Maru: 2 torpedo hits; on fire; heavy damage (Reported Sunk.)
xAK Saiho Maru: 2 torpedo hits; on fire; heavy damge (Reported Sunk).

No Allied losses.

3.) Allies bomb Moulmein.

52 Japanese Casualties.

1 destroyed (Ki-44-IIc Tojo).
1 destroyed (Ki-45 KAIa Nick).
1 destroyed (A6M5 Zero).

2 damaged (B-17E Fortress).
3 destroyed and 6 damaged (B25C Mitchell).
1 destroyed and 7 damaged (B-25D1 Mitchell).

4.) Allies bomb near Paoshan (hex 64,45).

10 destroyed (J2M3 Jack).
2 destroyed (Ki-44-IIc Tojo).
2 destroyed (Ki-KAIa Nick).

3 destroyed (P-47D2 Thunderbolt).

5.) Japanese bomb near Kweiyang (hex 75,50).

1 damaged (Ki--49-IIb Helen).

53 Chinese Casualties.

6.) Japanese bomb Taichu.

5 damaged (Ki-49-IIb Helen).

1 hit (Airbase).
2 hits (Runway).

7.) Allies bomb Pagan.

5 Japanese Casualties.

2 destroyed (N1K1-J George).

6 hits (Airbase).
21 hits (Runway).

5 damaged (B-24D1 Liberator).
10 damaged (PB4Y-1 Liberator).
2 damaged (PV-1 Ventura).

8.) Allies bombard due west of Paoshan (hex 64,45).

94 Japanese Casualties.

4 Allied Casualties.

9.) Allies shock attack Hengyang.

1,711 Japanese Casualties.
4 Units destroyed.

14 Allied Casualties.

10.) Allies deliberately attack Karenko.

25 Japanese Casualties.

718 Allied Casualties.


Attached below as a link is the entire Combat Report for October 30, 1943.

Best Regards,

-Terry

[CaptBeefheart]

Rio: The beauty of barges is they are created like PT boats. Just look at the base screen and if you have enough supply on hand, it'll have a button called something like "Create Barge TF." Aircraft usually don't even touch them, but they are vulnerable to surface and subsurface engagement.

Cheers,
CC

[Rio Bravo]

ORIGINAL: Commander Cody

Rio: The beauty of barges is they are created like PT boats. Just look at the base screen and if you have enough supply on hand, it'll have a button called something like "Create Barge TF." Aircraft usually don't even touch them, but they are vulnerable to surface and subsurface engagement.

Cheers,
CC

Command Cody-

Yes, I looked on the base screens at Amoy and Pescadores and made some barges.

I will transfer the marines by barge now.

Thank you, Commander Cody.

Best Regards,

-Terry

[Rio Bravo]

[center]After Action Report

for October 31, 1943[/center]


Highlights for Today


1.) El Lobo boots the Allies out of Karenko (Formosa).

2.) Though there were several battles in several locations today, all the battles were minor with minimal casualties being inflicted.


Synopsis of Combat Action for Today


1.) Allied CLs bombard Pagan.

10 Japanese casualties.

1 hit (Airbase).
4 hits (Runway).
1 hit (Port).

No Allied losses.

2.) Allies bomb Moulmein.

40 Japanese casualties.

1 destroyed (Ki-45 KAIa Nick).
1 destroyed (A6M5 Zero).

1 destroyed and 1 damaged (B-17F Fortress).
2 damaged (B-17E Fortress).
9 damaged (B-25C Mitchell).
4 damaged (B-25D1 Mitchell).
2 damaged (B-26 Marauder).

3.) Allies bomb due west of Paoshan.

14 Japanese casualties.

1 destroyed (J2M3 Jack).
4 destroyed (Ki-45 KAIa Nick).
1 destroyed (Ki-44-IIc Tojo).

2 destroyed (P-47D2 Thunderbolt).
1 destroyed and 8 damaged (B-24D1 Liberator).

4.) Japanese bomb Chungking.

No Japanese losses.

18 hits (Manpower).
12,586 (Fires).

5.) Japanese bomb Takao.

1 damaged (G4M1 Betty).
2 damaged (B-49-IIb Helen).

8 damaged (B-24J Liberator).

6.) Japanese bomb near Pagan.

1 destroyed and 1 damaged (G3M3 Nell).

No Allied losses.

7.) Allies bomb Pagan.

6 Japanese casualties.

1 destroyed (N1K1-J George).
1 destroyed (H6K5 Mavis).

13 hits (Airbase).
2 hits (Airbase Supply).
17 hits (Runway).
6 hits (Port).
2 hits (Port Supply).

5 damaged (B-24D1 Liberator).
12 damaged (PB4Y-1 Liberator).
3 damaged (PV-1 Ventura).

8.) Japanese deliberately attack Karenko.

32 Japanese casualties.

489 Allied casualties.
Allies retreat.

9.) Allies bombard due west of Paoshan.

132 Japanese casualties.

4 Allied casualties.


Attached below as a link is the entire Combat Report for October 31, 1943.

Best Regards,

-Terry

[HansBolter]

ORIGINAL: Rio Bravo

ORIGINAL: Commander Cody

Rio: The beauty of barges is they are created like PT boats. Just look at the base screen and if you have enough supply on hand, it'll have a button called something like "Create Barge TF." Aircraft usually don't even touch them, but they are vulnerable to surface and subsurface engagement.

Cheers,
CC

Command Cody-

Yes, I looked on the base screens at Amoy and Pescadores and made some barges.

I will transfer the marines by barge now.

Thank you, Commander Cody.

Best Regards,

-Terry

The Allies call them Landing Craft. Its the Japs that call them barges.

At the bottom of the ship reinforcement screen there is a display count of available PT boats, Landing Craft and Motor Gun Boats.

The Allied landing craft are a highly varied lot from LCTs to LCMs to LCVPs with varying capacities. You get no control over what type you get.

[CaptHaggard]

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

ORIGINAL: Rio Bravo

ORIGINAL: Commander Cody

Rio: The beauty of barges is they are created like PT boats. Just look at the base screen and if you have enough supply on hand, it'll have a button called something like "Create Barge TF." Aircraft usually don't even touch them, but they are vulnerable to surface and subsurface engagement.

Cheers,
CC

Command Cody-

Yes, I looked on the base screens at Amoy and Pescadores and made some barges.

I will transfer the marines by barge now.

Thank you, Commander Cody.

Best Regards,

-Terry

The Allies call them Landing Craft. Its the Japs that call them barges.

At the bottom of the ship reinforcement screen there is a display count of available PT boats, Landing Craft and Motor Gun Boats.

The Allied landing craft are a highly varied lot from LCTs to LCMs to LCVPs with varying capacities. You get no control over what type you get.

Hans—

If I disband MTBs in Bombay, do they go into the PT-Boat pool? Can I create PT-Boats from the returned MTBs at, say, Sydney or Guam or—?

This is a pretty dynamic inquiry at this point... we will soon need all PT/MTB/MGBs along the "Noose" line (Marcus to Amoy) and I don't relish running MTBs/MGBs across the Indian Ocean.

Thank you,

Hag

[HansBolter]

MTBs are in the PT boat category and would come from the same pool but I believe control of the port determines if you get PTs or MTBs.

I believe MTBs will only appear at British/Commonwealth controlled ports while PTs will only appear at American controlled ports.

Problem is there is no way to get a look at the distribution in the pool to see how many of each are there.

Its the same with the landing craft pool with no way to tell quantity breakdowns of LCTs, LCMs and LCVPs.

One way to tell if you only have PTs (there are far greater quantity of them) and not MTBs is to look at a Commonwealth port and see if the button is active or greyed out.


Some British Motor Launches, which are not pool craft, can be converted to MGBs, which are pool craft, allowing you to transfer them great distances.

However, MGBs have a very limited uses.

[BBfanboy]

To add to what Hans said, the US can also create PTs at large enough Australian ports.
Early in the game I believe the limit is something like 64 PT boats on the board, but I don't know how much this increases as the game goes on.
I think MTBs are a much smaller number and that may not increase like the PTs.
Part of the difficulty estimating what you can get is the lag time between sending boats to the pool and having them available for creation from supply. You have to manually keep tabs on these "in transit to the pool" boats.

BTW, you can create PTs from a Transport or Cargo TF with enough supply, but the supply has to be loaded in the US or PH. This simulates boats lashed to the decks of the xAKs and assumes you were prescient enough to know when and where you would need them!

[CaptHaggard]

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

MTBs are in the PT boat category and would come from the same pool but I believe control of the port determines if you get PTs or MTBs.

I believe MTBs will only appear at British/Commonwealth controlled ports while PTs will only appear at American controlled ports.

Problem is there is no way to get a look at the distribution in the pool to see how many of each are there.

Its the same with the landing craft pool with no way to tell quantity breakdowns of LCTs, LCMs and LCVPs.

One way to tell if you only have PTs (there are far greater quantity of them) and not MTBs is to look at a Commonwealth port and see if the button is active or greyed out.


Some British Motor Launches, which are not pool craft, can be converted to MGBs, which are pool craft, allowing you to transfer them great distances.

However, MGBs have a very limited uses.

Thank you, Hans,

I guess I'll convert MLs to MGBs in Colombo and then return them to the pool... actually, they have the same 40 mm Bofors that the PTs of China have been tearing up Jap ships with... good in less than 10% moonlight, great in 0% moonlight coupled with crummy weather...

As for the fate of the growing number of MTBs (24 appear from 10/1/43 to 1/1/44)—return to pool or trudge them to Perth, two by two dribs and drabs, with dedicated xAK TFs?

If I choose to have faith "in the system", I should return them as I receive them... meaning they can reappear in time at Sydney, or even Rabaul—and not end up restricted to Bombay or Calcutta after a month of waiting...

*Commence my somber ponder*

Thanks again, good sir,

Hag

[CaptHaggard]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

To add to what Hans said, the US can also create PTs at large enough Australian ports.
Early in the game I believe the limit is something like 64 PT boats on the board, but I don't know how much this increases as the game goes on.
I think MTBs are a much smaller number and that may not increase like the PTs.
Part of the difficulty estimating what you can get is the lag time between sending boats to the pool and having them available for creation from supply. You have to manually keep tabs on these "in transit to the pool" boats.

BTW, you can create PTs from a Transport or Cargo TF with enough supply, but the supply has to be loaded in the US or PH. This simulates boats lashed to the decks of the xAKs and assumes you were prescient enough to know when and where you would need them!

Hey BB!

As always, thank you for your response!

Re transport or cargo TF simulation, thank you for that information. I wish I could just load those puppies in Colombo as a specific cargo.

When I grudgingly ponder the absurd time and effort to breast-feed MTBs across the bloody Indian Ocean and then around Oz—waiting for the pool lag-time to trigger takes probably less time, given the assumption that the MTBs actually do come available in Sydney in a month... or even two...

So my dark secret is that I don't know what I'm doing in this game... actually no secret at all... but I neglected to send ships to China to supply PT-Boats with torpedoes. Most of my boys are empty, and left to duke it out with deck guns.

Well, they get to hide for awhile now... dodge a few Bettys now and then... wait for the fading moonlight so they can hit again...

Thanks again, BB!

Hag

[BBfanboy]

There are several flavours of MGB. I always pick the one that has depth charges so they can patrol newly taken ports to keep out IJN subs and mini-subs.

[CaptHaggard]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

There are several flavours of MGB. I always pick the one that has depth charges so they can patrol newly taken ports to keep out IJN subs and mini-subs.

BB!

That'll come in handy along the "Noose Line", 15-20 bases stretching from Marcus to Amoy...

Sounds like when I return them to pool, I must hope those DC-loaded MGBs come back as turned in...

Hag

[BBfanboy]

Yes, the model does not change, but if you have a mix of models in the pool I am not sure if you can select which you want.
I usually just set the MTBs to follow a TF of big ships at 0 hex range so they refuel enroute. This slows up the big ship TF every three turns or so but my supply pipeline is ahead of demand so a couple days longer transit time makes no difference.

[CaptHaggard]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Yes, the model does not change, but if you have a mix of models in the pool I am not sure if you can select which you want.
I usually just set the MTBs to follow a TF of big ships at 0 hex range so they refuel enroute. This slows up the big ship TF every three turns or so but my supply pipeline is ahead of demand so a couple days longer transit time makes no difference.

Ah-ha... by gum that's what I'll do... with a wide jag around whatever Jap island that is off Sumatra, steaming out of Diego Garcia to Perth, I figure a generous 3500 per ship... with a set of xAKs at Perth waiting to ferry them onward to Melbourne...

Thanks, BB!

[Rio Bravo]

[center]After Action Report

for November 1, 1943[/center]


Highlight for Today


1.) It is reported that Bella Arbel painted her toenails a glossy green to match her camos.


Synopsis of Combat Action for Today


1.) ASW attack near Iriomote (hex 88,65).

No Japanese losses.

SS Billfish: 1 hit.

2.) Night Naval Bombardment at Pagan.

26 Japanese casualties.

2 hits (Airbase).
1 hit (Airbase Supply).
8 hits (Runway).
5 hits (Port).
1 hit (Port Supply).

No Allied losses.

3.) Submarine attack near Hengchun (hex 84,68).

xAK Nissyu Maru: 1 torpedo hit.

No Allied losses.

4.) Japanese air attack near Amoy (hex 83,61).

No Japanese losses.

AM Bobolink: 2 torpedo hits; sunk.

5.) Japanese bomb Chungking.

No Japanese losses.

23 hits (Manpower).
10,964 (Fires).

6.) Japanese bomb Kagi.

4 damaged (Ki-49-IIb Helen).

2 damaged (F6F-3 Hellcat).
1 damaged (SB2C-1C Helldiver).

7.) Japanese bomb Takao.

2 damaged (Ki-49-IIb Helen).

No Allied losses.

8.) Allies bombard due west of Paoshan (hex 64,45).

41 Japanese casualties.

11 guns lost: 3 destroyed and 8 damaged.


Attached below as a link is the entire Combat Report for November 1, 1943.

Best Regards,

-Terry