Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee, Docup(A)-Koniu(J)

[obvert]

This is nice to see! Whether it's used as recon or a fighter, it looks good to me for both![:)]

[koniu]

Teaser
02 October

Burma
Allies land in Tavoy.
Last turn i saw CVE TF south of Rangoon(no sags no Transport ships). It was happening few times earlier. Usually Docup was covering Rangoon convoys. Suddenly last turn huge armada show up near Tavoy. Totally unexpected

In short. 1200+AV land in Tavoy (Japan have 300AV). LBA attack and get slaughtered by CAP.
300 Japanese planes lost. Allies lost 80 fighters 4 CVE damage (3 probably deadly -ammo fuel explosions))
I am starting major retreat to central Thailand. Time to start moving transport ships to Manila to be ready to evacuate my boys. Still i believe i will be able to use Singer/Palembang for next 2 maybe 3 months.
Tomorrow i will try again. 1000 Planes will try
Docup had 8-10 CVE i damage 4 and i shot down almost 1/3 of his cv capable fighters. Tomorrow i have some chance. Docup still unloading tanks so maybe he will be there tomorrow

Enemy troops.
XV Corps Engineer Battalion
18th Cavalry Regiment
9th Australian Div /10
26th Indian Division
50th Tank Bde /13

Maybe i will be able to stop them in this area for some time.
No time for more details, sorry

[koniu]

I have symptoms of WITP depression.[:(]
I know that thing that happening now should happening, but after years of victories it is hard to live with knowledge that only thing i can do now is to set groups to naval attack and watch them die.


Back to game
Salomon's are in Allied hands. The same for Marshals. Docup land in Tavoy. So entire Thailand is danger. Still i am strong three i can buy some time to pomp fuel from Palembang.

Docup can now move in few places.
Sumatra/Java maybe, but major ops there will not get him even mile closer to Tokyo. So it will be win for Japan even if i lose Sumatra/Java.
Marianas are option also but to land there he will fight without LBA support and Japan with full KB(1200 planes) and LBA support can win CV battle there - at lest now. Plus it will require all available carriers he have and at lest some are in IO.

North Pacific - Kuriles. Holly Mary move. I will use this as last. It can be done but once landed there Docup will have to move only from there. He cant hold Kuriles without constant CV support and with KB i can try to isolate his landing forces.

If i was Docup i will advance now in places when i can use minimal CV support and major LBA.
Docup need for next month reduce CV loses and still moving forward. I see only two places where he can move North Coast of New Guinea and Kendari/Ambon area and from there Philippines.
When he capture Philippines ha can move there toward Japan and as bonus he will cut of from Japan everything East of Philippines. In half 1945 he should have enough power to push in places like Okinawa or even Japan Invasion in late 45.

I make fast calculations. Without DEI oil, Japan fuel reserve will end in ~6-7 months.
After that supplies will start doping so maybe another 6 months. I believe i will be able to fight until 1946

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: koniu

I have symptoms of WITP depression.[:(]
I know that thing that happening now should happening, but after years of victories it is hard to live with knowledge that only thing i can do now is to set groups to naval attack and watch them die.

This is the toughest part of the late game for Japan. It takes a lot of resilience to send your best guys to their demise day after day with only the hope to slow, never to stop the Allied advance. I struggled mightily at times, and flailed around until I would get my footing again. The worst for me was not the plane losses but the troops first, then the factories. You know when your industry goes there is no hope but to cause some injury as you fall.

keep your head up! There is a long way to travel yet! [:)]

[koniu]

3 October 1944

Allies are still unloading in Tavoy. Japan attack

Today Docup sweep Tavoy but i believe this work on my favor. Sweeps force allied CAP and LCAP to involve in combat and most of his CAP was out of position when bombers attack

Lower You have ship hits from last two days (to achieve that it cost me 500 planes and 400 pilots)
Docup use in this battle 10 CVE and 1 CVL I have DAMAGE OR SUNK 9 OF THEM[:D]

CVL Unicorn, Torpedo hits 2
CVE Marcus Island, Torpedo hits 1, Kamikaze hits 1
CVE Wake Island, Kamikaze hits 2, and is sunk
CVE Battler, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CVE Begum, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CVE Kalinin Bay, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, Bomb hits 1
CVE Gambier Bay, Torpedo hits 1, Kamikaze hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CVE Sargent Bay, Torpedo hits 1, Kamikaze hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CVE Ranee, Kamikaze hits 1, on fire

[veji1]

Oh man.. Poor Docup, his navy will have been repeatedly plastered in this game..

[Lowpe]

[&o][&o]

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: koniu

3 October 1944

Allies are still unloading in Tavoy. Japan attack

Today Docup sweep Tavoy but i believe this work on my favor. Sweeps force allied CAP and LCAP to involve in combat and most of his CAP was out of position when bombers attack

Lower You have ship hits from last two days (to achieve that it cost me 500 planes and 400 pilots)
Docup use in this battle 10 CVE and 1 CVL I have DAMAGE OR SUNK 9 OF THEM[:D]

CVL Unicorn, Torpedo hits 2
CVE Marcus Island, Torpedo hits 1, Kamikaze hits 1
CVE Wake Island, Kamikaze hits 2, and is sunk
CVE Battler, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CVE Begum, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CVE Kalinin Bay, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, Bomb hits 1
CVE Gambier Bay, Torpedo hits 1, Kamikaze hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CVE Sargent Bay, Torpedo hits 1, Kamikaze hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CVE Ranee, Kamikaze hits 1, on fire

Nothing like a little naval air strike to get you feeling better! [:D]

When you take into account his lost airframes, the ships lost cost, and any other ships you haven't listed, you may have doubled his VPs for killing those 500 planes though. It's staggering to think it would cost so much as 500 planes to do this, but it usually does. Lots of clicks, but worth it.

[Yaab]

CVEs are tin-cans. Why do people use them offensively? Even 50-60kg GP bombs can sink them.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Yaab

CVEs are tin-cans. Why do people use them offensively? Even 50-60kg GP bombs can sink them.

Um, because koniu has sunk all of your other CVs? [;)]

[Lowpe]

There are 100 of them, so they are viewed as expendable.

They operate in coastal waters with no penalty.

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

There are 100 of them, so they are viewed as expendable.

They operate in coastal waters with no penalty.

I counted 93 CVE for allies. Until now he should have ~50
So far i have probably sunk 11 of them so today it is ~20% of operational ships

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: obvert


Nothing like a little naval air strike to get you feeling better! [:D]

When you take into account his lost airframes, the ships lost cost, and any other ships you haven't listed, you may have doubled his VPs for killing those 500 planes though. It's staggering to think it would cost so much as 500 planes to do this, but it usually does. Lots of clicks, but worth it.

I don`t event look at points. But i will tell that in those two days Docup is only +397 points

I also counted my loses.
595 planes (122 fighters and 473 bombers)
264 pilots KIA (including 80 kamikaze pilots)
182 pilots WIA
no MIA pilots

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

There are 100 of them, so they are viewed as expendable.

They operate in coastal waters with no penalty.

This! As the allies only two things really hurt to loose. Troops and troops. I would trade 10 CVEs to make a landing stick and save some APA/AKAs without even flinching.

[veji1]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

There are 100 of them, so they are viewed as expendable.

They operate in coastal waters with no penalty.

This! As the allies only two things really hurt to loose. Troops and troops. I would trade 10 CVEs to make a landing stick and save some APA/AKAs without even flinching.

Sure, but to me, there is a bit of a "role play" aspect for the allies : you just don't throw 10 CVES (and close to 9000 sailors and pilots) to their death ! I mean I understand from a purely game winning perspective, but yikes, as the allies, losing close to 10 000 sailors in a few days can't be a victory, particularly in late war !

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: veji1
Sure, but to me, there is a bit of a "role play" aspect for the allies : you just don't throw 10 CVES (and close to 9000 sailors and pilots) to their death ! I mean I understand from a purely game winning perspective, but yikes, as the allies, losing close to 10 000 sailors in a few days can't be a victory, particularly in late war !

You can´t role play in a PDU ON game. Its like saying water isn´t wet. [:)]

[koniu]

4 October 1944

Allied 4E bombers attack and close undefended Chiang Mai


23 B-29 attack Medan, 20 never come back. Base was defended by 36 N1K1. It was carnage
6 oil wells destroyed

Morning Air attack on Medan , at 46,76

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 59 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 18 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 36

Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 23

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K1-J George: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-29-1 Superfort: 10 destroyed, 12 damaged

Oil hits 4


Troops in Akyab are holding bot not for long

[HansBolter]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

There are 100 of them, so they are viewed as expendable.

They operate in coastal waters with no penalty.

All carriers operate in coastal waters with no penalty.

the penalty is only incurred in base hexes.

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

There are 100 of them, so they are viewed as expendable.

They operate in coastal waters with no penalty.

All carriers operate in coastal waters with no penalty.

the penalty is only incurred in base hexes.

+1
There dont have to be build base, hexes with dots also have penalty

[koniu]

5 September 1944

Burma
Docup retreat to Rangoon. Japanese bombers finishes what have left in area.
Docup try to retreat last damage ships but i have sunk CVE and DD and another CVE eat 250kg bomb
On ground allied almost capture Akyab. I think day or two. I dont manage to reinforce base i moving there 800AV to slow them down

Morning Air attack on TF, near Tavoy at 52,59

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 78 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 25 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B6N1 Jill x 24
Ki-84r Frank x 62

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter TF.X x 7
Spitfire VIII x 12
F4U-1D Corsair x 21
P-38J Lightning x 16
P-40N5 Warhawk x 14
P-40N26 Warhawk x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-84r Frank: 10 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufighter TF.X: 3 destroyed
Spitfire VIII: 1 destroyed
F4U-1D Corsair: 2 destroyed
P-38J Lightning: 2 destroyed
P-40N5 Warhawk: 3 destroyed
P-40N26 Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CVE Begum, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
DD Quadrant, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
----------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Moulmein at 53,57

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B6N1 Jill x 24 - same group from morning but this time bombs
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 23
Ki-84r Frank x 28

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 5
Corsair II x 13
Beaufighter VIc x 15
Beaufighter TF.X x 9
Hurricane IIc Trop x 14
P-40K Warhawk x 11
P-40N5 Warhawk x 39
P-40N26 Warhawk x 8
F4U-1A Corsair x 25
F6F-3 Hellcat x 25

Japanese aircraft losses
B6N1 Jill: 14 destroyed
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 3 destroyed
Ki-84r Frank: 7 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufighter VIc: 1 destroyed
Beaufighter TF.X: 1 destroyed
Hurricane IIc Trop: 2 destroyed
P-40K Warhawk: 1 destroyed
P-40N5 Warhawk: 2 destroyed
P-40N26 Warhawk: 1 destroyed
F4U-1A Corsair: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CVE Gambier Bay, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
----------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Tavoy at 54,60

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 4 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 0 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B7A2 Grace x 26
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 23

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
xAK Catrine, Bomb hits 11, and is sunk
xAK Fultala, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Havildar, Bomb hits 12, and is sunk
xAK Testbank, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
----------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Tavoy (54,60)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 26008 troops, 361 guns, 640 vehicles, Assault Value = 1111

Defending force 10561 troops, 149 guns, 79 vehicles, Assault Value = 153

Allied adjusted assault: 323

Japanese adjusted defense: 532

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 5)

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

Japanese ground losses:
322 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 59 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 32 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 14 (7 destroyed, 7 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1074 casualties reported
Squads: 14 destroyed, 79 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 15 disabled

Assaulting units:
18th Cavalry Regiment
26th Indian Division
50th Tank Brigade
XV Corps Engineer Battalion
9th Australian Division

Defending units:
29th Ind.Mixed Brigade
3rd Air Division
33rd Road Const Co
1st Ind. Field Artillery Battalion
27th Fld AA Gun Co
4th Field AF Construction Battalion
125th AA Regiment
13th RF Gun (Pack) Battalion
11th Special Base Force
19th JAAF AF Bn


Arafura Sea
Interesting finding in Arafura Sea
Search planes find what is looking like two Air combat TFs and two more unknown TFs
I have KB 2-3 days from that area in case it is something big.
Lower map, air loses of day and ships sunk in Battle of Akyab