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

[floydg]

So here's the score summary:


One thing to note is that I actually destroyed 80 planes on the ground at Port Moresby, not 40. Wow - we never had that many planes destroyed in a bombardment. And I really didn't expect much, since all past raids were pathetic...

Ship losses are about even. I've lost 2 CV, 5 BB, 8 CA; and he's lost 2 CV, 2 CVE, BB, CS, AV, 4 CA and 24 subs.

He's really beating me in the army loss points and bases controlled. I hope my actions in New Caledonia boost his troop losses, since he has quite a few there which I hope to eradicate. As far as bases, well, that's probably not going to make any major swings.

[floydg]

October 2, 1942

Highlights: Japanese CL's hit by Baker

• Japanese bomb the airfield at Yenen and do minor damage.
• Allies bomb the airfield at Port Moresby again, but the Allies only fly with 32 bombers and the Japanese put up almost double the CAP from the previous day. 9 bombers are downed to 4 fighters and the airbase is almost unscathed.
• Allies start softening up the troops at La Foa with aerial bombardment, racking up over 400 casualties on the troops.
• American carriers Wasp and Saratoga intercept a Japanese cruiser task force neat Baker Island. The CL Natori takes 2 bombs and 4 torpedoes (which sinks), the CL Kinu takes 7 bombs and 2 torpedoes and the CS Chitose takes a bomb. Two escorting DD's are not attacked.
• East of Lanchow, two Chinese corps attack Japanese troops and push them slightly from their defensive positions.
• At Changsha, the Chinese spot a large number of Japanese troops resting and in a directed bombardment, cause 525 casualties.
• NE of Canton, the two Japanese armor units are attacked and retreat south.
• Spies report the port at Kwajalein expanded to level 5.

Analysis: I thought transports were inbound to Baker, but it was CL's and the Chitose scouting Baker. They stumbled a bit too far south and my carriers slammed them. I'll try to hit them again next turn for some easy kills. But now he knows where my carriers are, so I can't keep this up long. But Baker should be safe now, as Coach Z admitted that when he saw an RCT there, he scrubbed the invasion. Too bad...
In other news, I have accumulated only 7 P-38G's... It'll be another week before I can upgrade a group. I am so impatient. [:(]

[floydg]

October 3, 1942

Highlights: AVG reappears in China; CL Kinu finished off

• Another Japanese barge hits a mine at Adak Island. SBD's later put a bomb in two others.
• SE of Port Moresby, the SS S-39 is hit in an ASW attack and must return to port for immediate repairs.
• The Japanese bomb Yenen with 31 Sally escorted by 16 Zero. They are intercepted by 20 P-40E's of the AVG. The AVG shoots down 4 fighters and 3 bombers. Most surviving Japanese planes break off their attack and the rest cause no damage. Four AVG fighters are damaged.
• Japanese hit the resource centers at Changsha.
• 38xB-24D attack Wake Island. Almost half are damaged by CAP and flak, but 3 Tojo are destroyed and the airbase took minor damage.
• Japanese troops at La Foa are softened up from the air by 125 bombers.
• South of Baker Island, the American carrier planes locate and finish off the CL Kinu. The other Japanese ships had escaped and left the Kinu to fend for herself.
• Japanese troops attack again at Yenen. The Chinese fall back a little and some more of the fortifications are reduced.
• Northeast of Yenen, a Chinese corps attempts to block Japanese supply lines and is attacked by two Mongolian Cavalry Divisions and is forced to retreat north towards the USSR.
• West of that conflict, two Chinese corps attack three Japanese units and fail to break the Japanese line.

Analysis: Some naval activity around Port Moresby, so I expect something directed toward Thursday Island or NE Australia soon.
The AVG did well in its first re-appearance in China since I withdrew them almost 2 months ago when the P-40 pool was almost empty.
Too bad the rest of his cruiser force escaped around Baker Island. I'll pull back the carriers now, since I don't think there is anything left to gain.

[floydg]

October 4, 1942

Highlights:

• The CA Furutaka and CA Kumano bombard Thursday Island and do minor damage.
• Over 50 Japanese bombers hit the airfield at Hengchow and do moderate damage.
• 28xB-24D's hit Amchitka Island and do slight damage to the airbase.
• East of Iwo Jima, the SS Gato locates a large Japanese surface fleet and before the sub could identify many ships, 5 DD's swarmed on the sub, getting one direct hit and several minor hits. The sub must return for immediate repairs.
• Allies attack at La Foa, forcing the Japanese to fall back to better defensive positions. The Allies took over 700 casualties to over 300 Japanese, however.
• Nanning and Tawara expand their airfields to level 4.

Analysis: I knew something was brewing towards Thursday Island. I don't think he bombarded just for amusement, so something must be coming soon. But really, all I can do is sit and wait...
With Tarawa now a level 4 airfield, I have to be concerned about the long torpedo-flinging arm of the Betty, so I'll fall back a bit from Baker Island. I also need to hide my carriers - not sure if I should head back north or make a move south and try to meet up with a repairing Lexington (Sys=9, but lots of damaged weapons. I'd like the ship to upgrade which replaces a lot of those weapons. The upgrade was due in 6/42, but it won't upgrade...).

[floydg]

October 5, 1942

Highlights: Koumac airfield closed again

• In the Malacca Straits, the PG Kozan Maru hits a mine previously laid by the Japanese and the SS Trusty scores a hit on the AK Hokuzyu Maru (which had troops loaded).
• Japanese bomb Nanning and do slight damage to the newly expanded airbase.
• 125 Allied bombers hit the airfield at Koumac to ensure it is closed for operations again.
• East of Wake Island, a task force of American DMS are probing Japanese air defenses. In two waves, 21 Sally's and then later another 12 attack the ships, but score no hits and a few are damaged by flak.
• Northeast of Canton, the Japanese attack the Chinese attempting to surround Canton and force the two Corps to retreat north.
• Funafuti airfield expands to level 2.

Analysis: Looks like more reinforcements headed to Andaman Islands. I'm glad I'm keeping him busy laying mines and redeploying troops. It's fun to watch him scramble.
His air campaign in China continues and I'm trying to beef up the fighter defenses with Hurricanes and Spitfires.
In the New Caledonia area, it looks to me like he's given up his offense and is now on the defensive. There was a stretch of a few days when his strikes didn't fly, which let me build up my fighter reserve (now good enough to replace 1-1/2 squadrons). Once that happened, the tide in the airwar turned and I was willing to bring in my 4E bombers (now have about 140 there, as well as 80 2E). I'll start pressuring him at Luganville to ensure a good perimeter of defense as I move in another USA division to hopefully push things over the top for me.

[floydg]

October 6, 1942

Highlights: Myitkyina siege advances; Japanese barges sunk

• Five Allied DD's encounter 18 Japanese barges at Adak Island. The DD's sink five of them before the barges can escape shielded by smoke.
• The SS Runner saw the fleeing barges and sunk one with the deck gun.
• The CA Furutaka and CA Kumano along with 3xDD bombard Thursday Island again, causing a little damage.
• The Japanese bomb Dacca with 68 bombers escorted by 50 Tony. The 12 Hurricane II's are no match for the Tony's and 11 are downed quickly, but one sneaks by and shoots down a Lily. The Japanese attack the resource centers and get a few hits.
• 118 4-engine bombers from Noumea hit Luganville. 28 Tony intercept and down a few bombers. The bombers to minor damage to the airbase and destroy about 10 Japanese planes.
• 71xB-24D's hit Amchitka Island and do minor damage to the airbase.
• The Japanese attack at Yenen and destroy the fortifications that the Chinese were able to just enhance. Almost 2800 Japanese casualties are taken to 525 Chinese.
• The Allies attack at Myitkyina and reduce the fortifications another level (now at 4). The Japanese take over 600 casualties to under 500 Allies.
• The Chinese attack NW of Canton and are routed again. Despite several additional corps of Chinese, they can't make headway against the Japanese, taking over 2150 casualties to under 700 Japanese.

Analysis: I shot up a bunch of his barges re-supplying Adak Island (I assume they're bringing supply, since no troops were reported lost on the sinkings), but there were so many, it was impossible to sink them all.
On my airbase attacks, I seem to be making some headway into his supply of Tony's. I wiped out another 12, breaking the 100-plane loss mark. I'll try to keep the pressure on Luganville and hopefully force him to pull back to Lunga or Shortlands.
He's making progress at Yenen, so I expect it to fall in about a week or so.
At Myitkyina, I made some progress, dropping his forts another level despite a 0-on-1 attack (but I was close).
Definitely an invasion force is making steam for Thursday Island, as I spotted transports 4 hexes out. I'll see how many I can shoot up and bomb before they all unload.

[floydg]

October 7, 1942

Highlights: Thursday Island invaded; lots of Tonys destroyed

• The Japanese begin to unload troops at Thursday Island. The task force is attacked several times. First strafed by Kittyhawks, doing slight damage to the DD Shikinami, DD Hagikaze, AV Sanyo Maru and AV Akitsushima. Then some B-24D's got bomb hits on the AP Kyushu Maru and DD Amatsukaze and two on the AV Akitsushima. Some bombers get bad navigation and end up attacking a task force by Gili-Gili and get three hits in the MSW Musashi Maru, sinking her.
• Near Amchitka Island, the SS Pike locates some barges and hits one several times with the deck gun and sinks it.
• The Japanese bomb the airfield at Nanning and do slight damage, but lose a Zero to the CAP (and two Chinese fighters were downed).
• The Japanese bomb Imphal with 74 bombers escorted by 49 Tony. The CAP of 11xHurricaneII and 13xSpitfire down 14 Tony's and 6 bombers to 10 of their own and 6 more fighters on the ground. The airbase takes moderate damage.
• 149 bombers attack the Japanese airbase at Luganville. The CAP of 13 Tony shoot down 6 bombers, but over 10 planes are destroyed in the air and on the ground and the airbase takes major damage.
• Near Gili-Gili, the SS S-44 puts a torpedo into the AK Nittai Maru.
• Chinese attack east of Lanchow, but fail to push the Japanese back.

Analysis: I knew Thursday Island was gonna be attacked. I did get in some good shots and I think the troops were really disrupted in the landing. Surprisingly, my B-24D's actually hit something from 10,000 feet. I'll ferry in some more troops and see if the place will hold.
Elsewhere, at Dacca and Luganville, 29 Tonys were destroyed in the air and on the ground. I'm making decent progress on his top of the line fighters, which is quite good.
Related to that, I now have 24 available P-38G's and will upgrade a group and hope for a nice surprise in a few days when they're all repaired and ready for action.
I will start making a push at New Caledonia, trying to clear out that island of Japanese before he can bring in carriers to escort supply (or evacuate troops). I want to kill as much of his troops as I can here, since that will (hopefully) put a damper on his offensive options.

[floydg]

October 8, 1942

Highlights: More action at Thursday Island; Chinese move into Burma

• Japanese forces continue to unload at Thursday Island. The task forces are again attacked. B-24D's and Kittyhawks get several hits on the AP Kasuga Maru, AP Nissen Maru, AV Akitsushima Maru and AV Sanyo Maru. Some troops are lost in the attacks.
• East of Attu Island, the SS Kingfish surfaces and sinks an AG. At Ogliuga Island, the SS Gurnard does the same on a different AG.
• The CA Furutaka and CA Kumano return to Thursday Island to bombard, causing minor damage. As they retire, the SS Flying Fish fires at the Furutaka, but misses.
• In the Malacca Straits, the DD Mutsuki hits a Japanese-laid mine and sinks.
• 57 Japanese bombers attack Changsha, escorted by 30 Tojo. 22 Allied planes intercept and down 4 Tojo and two bombers to 5 of their own. Moderate damage is done to the airbase.
• At the same time, a small number of bombers attack the airbase at Nanning and do minor damage, but also destroy a few Chinese planes.
• 82xB-24D attack Attu Island. 13 Tony intercept and down 4 bombers, but the remaining bombers had bad coordinates and only a small number of bombs came close to doing damage.
• North of Perth, the Japanese attack. The defending Australians hold, dishing out over 700 casualties to 300 Australians.
• Northeast of Canton, the Japanese engage a Chinese corps and before the Chinese could mount a proper defense, the General orders the unit to retreat.
• The Japanese attack at Yenen, but fail miserably, taking over 3600 casualties to about 500 Chinese.
• East of Lashio, the Chinese cross the river to engage a part of the 18th Japanese Division. The Chinese make it across the river and establish defensive positions, amid Japanese fire.
• The Allies attack at La Foa, but the Japanese hold, taking almost 300 casualties to just over 500 Allied casualties.

Analysis: He unloaded more troops at Thursday Island. Now I face the 56th Brigade and two Naval Guard units with only a small part of the USA 32nd Division. I have one level of forts, but that may not be enough... But I am making a mess of his ships with my fighters and 4E bombers.
In Australia, my troops attempting to relieve Perth are long away, so this could be another close one.
In the Aleutians, my advance has really slowed, so now I need to do something to open things up. I'm bringing in some more troops and will make some coordinated landings and a parachute drop to try to break things up.
Looks like he's sneaking in supply to New Caledonia via sub (or he's evacing troops by sub). Either way, I'll be stationing some ASW at La Foa to stop that. I'm also bringing in some fresh troops to try to break up that stalled operation.

[floydg]

October 9, 1942

Highlights: Chinese airbases pounded

• More Japanese troops unload at Thursday Island. The Allied defenders are softened up a bit with a small air raid. As the transports make their way back to Japanese bases, Allied planes hit them again.
• 5 Allied DD's enter the waters around Adak Island and encounter 3 Japanese barges. With a few salvos, the barges are all sunk.
• B-24D's put four bombs into the AV Akitsushima and sink her, 1 bomb in the AP Nissen Maru, 13 in the AP Kasuga Maru (sinking her, of course), two in the DD Sazanami and one in the AP Taiyo Maru. Kittyhawks strafe the DD Shikinami and AP Kamakura Maru, adding a few extra un-wanted portholes.
• The BB Resolution, along with 3 DD, bombard the Japanese troops north of Perth. The Japanese troops attack the Australians and fail.
• 42 Japanese bombers hit the airfield at Yenen and cause minor damage.
• 57 Japanese bombers come in on the airfield at Changsha and the 51-plane escort is met by 17 Allied fighters. The Allies lose 7 fighters to only 2 Japanese and the airfield also gets minor damage. A bombardment by the Japanese troops inflict over 400 casualties, as the shelling hits several Chinese sleeping quarters.
• 38 Japanese bombers attack the airfield at Nanning and the 31 Zeros escorting butcher the 11 Hurricanes on CAP, leaving only 1 in the air. The airbase takes minor damage.
• Allies make a small run on the airfield at Koumac and do slight damage. The Japanese report their first sighting of the P-38G, which accidentally were ordered to escort this “milk run”.
• Almost 100 American bombers hit the airfield at Efate and do moderate damage.

Analysis: Looks like he's unleashed the hounds on my airbases in China. Either he's trying to make me waste supply repairing the place or he's really trying to close the bases. I assume it's the former. I think his campaign against my resource centers there is paying off for him, as I'm running a bit low on supply at some bases that were okay a while back. I'll need to move more fighters in, but I'd be draining too much from India and Burma...
Thursday Island may not hold, but the base isn't really critical to me.

[floydg]

October 10, 1942

Highlights: Defense holds at Thursday Island

• South of Honshu, the SS Argonaut takes a direct depth charge hit and many attempts to sink her. The damage is not critical, but the sub will return to port anyway.
• In the Aleutians, the SS Runner surfaces and shoots at a barge, hitting it twice before the smoke obscured the gunner's view.
• Thursday Island is bombarded again by Japanese cruisers and destroyers. Moderate damage is done. Then an air raid on the troops a little more damage. When the Japanese troops attack, the defenders are still well-emplaced and the Japanese advance is easily stopped.
• The CA Vincennes, CL Boise and CL Raleigh bombard Adak Island and do only slight damage.
• Japanese bomb the airbase at Yenen and do minor damage. Three Sally are downed by the few Hurricanes up on CAP.
• The Allies bomb the airbase at Koumac and do minor damage.

Analysis: Luckily, the defenses held at Thursday Island and he ended up with a 0-on-1. He's unloading supply now (I guess he'll need it) and I will probably lose out after an extended operation. He keeps making effective bombardment runs from Port Moresby and I can't seem to find a way to stop it...
Things are moving slowly elsewhere (China, Burma, Aleutians and New Caledonia). I need to find a way to break the log-jam and make some progress before he can easily take back the initiative.

[floydg]

October 11, 1942

Highlights: Japanese CVL surprise

• The CA Vincennes, CL Boise and CL Raleigh bombard Adak Island again and do a bit more damage than the previous day.
• The Japanese bomb the airfield at Yenen and the 38-plane escort shot down 6 of the 9 Hurricanes on CAP. Minor damage was done, otherwise.
• The Japanese bomb the airbase at Thursday Island and do moderate damage.
• Allies ensure that the airbase at Koumac is closed with a 54-plane bombardment.
• The CVL Shoho and CVL Zuiho appear south of Noumea and strike two transports returning to a major port for repairs. The AK Susan Luckenbach and AP President Adams are sunk after taking several torpedo hits each.
• North of Perth, the Japanese troops attack and the Australians hold their positions well.
• South of Darwin, however, the Japanese attack causes the 1st Australian Division to break and retreat.
• More Chinese cross the river towards Lashio.
• Allies attack at La Foa, but the Japanese hold and the Allies take almost 1200 casualties to under 450 Japanese.

Analysis: Those CVL's snuck in out of nowhere. [:@] I'll put all of my LBA on Naval and maybe I'll make him regret his actions.
Elsewhere, I'm not making good progress in China, and he is.
Tomorrow is another day.

[floydg]

October 12, 1942

Highlights: Yenen defense crumbling; set-back in Australia

• Japanese bomb the resource centers at Kunming and get a few hits, and the resource centers at Wuchow and get a quite a few hits.
• American bombers attack Japanese shipping around Luganville. Tony's on CAP down several bombers, but in total, the AP Tama Maru #2 takes a bomb hit, PG Saga takes three, DD Hasu takes two, PG Yachiyo Maru takes 4 and PG Chokai Maru takes 2.
• South of Darwin, the Japanese attack again and more Allies troops retreat south, leaving only one Australian brigade.
• The Japanese attack at Yenen and reduce the fortifications to nothing, but take over 2100 casualties to under 950 Chinese.
• The Japanese armored units attack at Hengchow, reducing the fortifications to 2, but the Chinese hold.
• Northeast of Yenen, near the Soviet border, the Japanese force a Chinese unit to retreat within sight of the border.
• The Allies attack at Myitkyina and reduce the fortifications again, now at 3, but the Japanese easily hold their defensive positions.
• Spies report the airfield at Inch'on expands to level 5, airfield at Tatung expands to level 2 and that the port at Soerabaja expands to level 9.

Analysis: He's pounding my resource centers in China, Burma and India now. I think it's his new strategy to deprive me of supply. Unfortunately, he really outnumbers and outclasses me in fighters there, so I can't stop him. Just a little speed bump.
My planned attacks on his CVL's south of Noumea ended up going after ships at Luganville, so my bombers got chewed up by Tony's. [:(] I did do some damage, but those squadrons now have crappy morale.
Making progress at Myitkyina, which really frustrates CoachZ, since I've reduced his forts from 6 to 3 in just three attacks. [:D] That was my highlight of the turn.
In Australia, I'm getting knocked back and he may have an avenue into Alice Springs now, since he has more troops than I can defend with. Oh, well.

[floydg]

October 13, 1942

Highlights: Dacca plastered; more failure in China

• Just south of Rabaul, the SS Greenling puts a torpedo into the AK Hokkai Maru.
• The BB Haruna, CA Atago and DD Shiokaze bombard the Chinese troops at Canton and virtually miss everyone.
• The BB Resolution and three DD bombard the Japanese troops north of Perth and cause a small number of casualties.
• Japanese bomb Wuchow and are met by 13 x Spitfire. 7 of the Spitfires are downed by the 19 x Zero, which only take down one Zero. A few resource center hits are made.
• 89 Japanese bombers, escorted by 56 x Tony hit the airfield at Dacca. 24 Allied planes intercept and manage to down 9 Tony and three bombers before losing half of their own planes. Moderate damage is done to the airfield and several planes are destroyed on the ground. A second wave is less effective.
• More Allied bombers from Noumea strike Japanese ships around Luganville. 28 x Tony on CAP down 12 of them and no hits are registered.
• East of Adak Island, the SS I-4 puts two torpedoes into the AK Laida. The troops on board are rescued by a DD as the transport sinks.
• South of Darwin, the remaining Australians defending the road are forced to retreat south.
• The Japanese attack at Hengchow and reduce the remaining fortifications to rubble.
• West of Ichang, the Chinese attack and fail, taking over 2800 casualties to just over 250 defending Japanese.
• In North China, east of Lanchow, the Chinese attack and also fail, taking over 800 casualties to under 100 Japanese.

Analysis: Dacca was plastered, but should be operational quickly and back to pristine condition in under a week. I'm glad to see him waste bombing runs on this airfield, since it's that important to me.
In China, I'm really not making progress and he seems to be making better progress daily. I guess it's only fair, but I still don't like it. Hengchow will fall soon and I can't dislodge him from anywhere, despite the large concentration of forces I've made in some areas. Maybe it's time for a strategy change...
In the Aleutians, the reinforcements got hit. Granted it was only a raider battalion, but I was really relying on the supplies more than troops. I'll need to get supply from another means now.

[floydg]

Here is the situation south of Darwin:



A = Japanese forces, comprised of an Infantry Division, Mixed Brigade, two SNLF, an Armored Regiment and a Mortar Battalion (AV ~680)
B = My forces, comprised of two Infantry Divisions, two Infantry Brigades and two Armored (AV ~400)
C = Cav Bridgade (AV 70)
And a BF at Alice Springs

I suspect he'll make a move on Alice Springs now that he has an opening, since that would give him an airbase to really annoy the crap out of me. I'll need to reinforce it, but I'm running low on troops...

Any ideas, kind reader? [:(]

[n01487477]

Hey Floyd,
must send you an email sometime about stuff ... hope your mate isn't frying in Melbourne too much - and is having a good time ... watching the Open right now.

I remember in the movie Galipolli (one of Australia's best war movies - about the first WW ... )
Anyway Mel Gibson's character and the other guy (??) are heading across the Simpson Desert and they come across a camel train driver. It is a stark unforgiving landscape and the two are nearly dying of thirst.

(Camel driver) You looking for work?
- No, I'm off to the war.
(Camel driver)- What war?
The war against Germany.
(Camel driver) I knew a German once.
- How did it start? -
Don't start him.
Don't know exactly, but it was the Germans' fault.
(Camel driver)- The Australians fighting already?
- Yeah, in Turkey.
(Camel driver)Turkey?! Why's that?
- Ask him. - Cos Turkey's a German ally.
(Camel driver)Ah, well, you learn something every day.
(Camel driver)Still, can't see what it's got to do with us.
We don't stop them there, they could end up here.
(Camel driver)- (looking at the STARK WILDERNESS OF THE INTERIOR) And they're welcome to it.

I guess my point is that this is really a vast continent and you have plenty of time to post a defence somewhere that counts.I can't recall any player that actually took all of Oz (but I might be wrong)... the supply situation is terrible, it's easy to bring in reinforcements and it just takes too long to capture.

As for Alice Springs get some of those overabundant transports working for you and deliver some AV from Melbourne or Adelaide - I guess PP's will need to be paid to allow them to be moved ... Nemo has taught me that transports are some of the Allies best weapons to deliver and forward advance behind enemy lines. Here you can move your troops quickly to reinforce and bludgeon Coach back to Darwin.

Also - not sure of your LB situation, but concentrated ground attack can kill that enemy AV very quickly.

Damian

[floydg]

ORIGINAL: n01487477

Hey Floyd,
must send you an email sometime about stuff ... hope your mate isn't frying in Melbourne too much - and is having a good time ... watching the Open right now.

I remember in the movie Galipolli (one of Australia's best war movies - about the first WW ... )
Anyway Mel Gibson's character and the other guy (??) are heading across the Simpson Desert and they come across a camel train driver. It is a stark unforgiving landscape and the two are nearly dying of thirst.

(Camel driver) You looking for work?
- No, I'm off to the war.
(Camel driver)- What war?
The war against Germany.
(Camel driver) I knew a German once.
- How did it start? -
Don't start him.
Don't know exactly, but it was the Germans' fault.
(Camel driver)- The Australians fighting already?
- Yeah, in Turkey.
(Camel driver)Turkey?! Why's that?
- Ask him. - Cos Turkey's a German ally.
(Camel driver)Ah, well, you learn something every day.
(Camel driver)Still, can't see what it's got to do with us.
We don't stop them there, they could end up here.
(Camel driver)- (looking at the STARK WILDERNESS OF THE INTERIOR) And they're welcome to it.

I guess my point is that this is really a vast continent and you have plenty of time to post a defence somewhere that counts.I can't recall any player that actually took all of Oz (but I might be wrong)... the supply situation is terrible, it's easy to bring in reinforcements and it just takes too long to capture.

As for Alice Springs get some of those overabundant transports working for you and deliver some AV from Melbourne or Adelaide - I guess PP's will need to be paid to allow them to be moved ... Nemo has taught me that transports are some of the Allies best weapons to deliver and forward advance behind enemy lines. Here you can move your troops quickly to reinforce and bludgeon Coach back to Darwin.

Also - not sure of your LB situation, but concentrated ground attack can kill that enemy AV very quickly.

Damian

Thanks for the reply. Yeah, Galliopli was an enjoyable flick...

Yes, I do plan on using his advancing troops as target practice for my LBA, but I'm not sure how much I will attrit them in their march, since he's doing the same to me (damn Betty's).

Most of my transports are dedicated right now to re-supplying Thursday Island, which is having it's own little battle. In the meantime, everyone is moving by ground, since the range is a bit extreme. I have ~300 AV on the way to relieve the Perth situation and ~115 AV up to Alice Springs.

I suppose the more Japanese troops I get tied down in Australia, the less trouble they can be doing to me elsewhere. Especially since it appears he's abandoned New Caledonia with only token resupply efforts. Once I can re-secure that area, I can mount an offensive, or put up a bigger defense.

[floydg]

October 14, 1942

Highlights: Hengchow falls; Atka Island liberated

• The CA Furutaka, CA Kumano and three DD bombard Thursday Island again, causing moderate damage. When the sun rose, 58 x B-24D's attacked the Japanese troops and caused over 250 casualties. The Japanese bombarded the defending Allies and caused over 100 casualties. The Japanese troops then attack, but the Allies are ready and the attack is spoiled.
• The BB Haruna, CA Atago and a DD again bombard Canton, and again cause very little damage to the Chinese. The Japanese forces then attack, but the Chinese are well-emplaced and suffer under 700 casualties to over 1800 Japanese.
• American forces unload more troops at Adak Island.
• More Allied LBA at Noumea struck Japanese shipping at Luganville. This time, the bombers did make it past the CAP and planted two bombs on the AP Nichiren Maru and three on the AP Keiyo Maru. Also of note, the first enemy plane was shot down by at P-38G.
• The Japanese attack at Yenen, but the Chinese hold, causing almost 2800 casualties to just over 900 Chinese.
• The Japanese attack at Hengchow and because the defenses have been knocked down, the Chinese abandon the city and retreat.
• Northwest of Canton, the Chinese attack and make progress against the Japanese.
• The Allies attack at La Foa, and despite making positive progress, still suffer disproportionate casualties.
• American paratroopers land on an un-defended Atka Island and re-take it.

Analysis: More set-backs in China. Coach Z is gloating that he found a weakness in my defense and rushed in and took Hengchow. He's right, but he's gotta stop congratulating himself - it's annoying after hearing it the first 50 times... [:-]
But things really are turning for the worse for me in China, so I've decided to abandon my attempt on Canton and pull some of those troops out. I've committed so much and made so little progress, it's no longer worth it.
I'm making a little progress in the Aleutians with an airdrop on Atka Island to secure a forward base, since Adak Island will be a mess once (and if) I capture it. I've also braved the Betty's and I'm shipping in supply for the effort. His AV there is in the 80's to my 300's, but I still can't make headway...
And I got my first P-38 kill. [:D]

[floydg]

October 15, 1942

Highlights: Retreat at Canton

• American forces continue to unload at Adak Island.
• The BB Haruna, CA Atago and a DD once again bombard Canton and once again do little damage. The Japanese then attack, catching the Chinese off-guard and they retreat due west.
• South of Rabaul, the SS Greenling puts a torpedo into the PG Busho Maru.
• The Japanese bomb the resource centers at Wuchow, doing minor damage and shooting down 3 of 9 Spitfire's on CAP.
• Near Attu Island, the Captain of the SS Albacore gets overly aggressive and puts three torpedoes into the AK Nissyo Maru and sinks her.

Analysis: Ugh! The Chinese retreated from Canton to a crappy hex with no road, so now I need to slowly march them out. Double Ugh.
The only other highlight was sinking an AK.
[>:]

[floydg]

October 16, 1942

Highlights: First P-38G losses

• Near Wallis Island, the SS I-29 surfaces and hits the AK Coloradan with 7 shells and three torpedoes, sinking her in a display of massive overkill. But the transport did report getting a hit on the sub before she sank.
• The Japanese bomb the airbase at Kweilin, causing moderate damage. The Japanese lose three planes to CAP and flak, while the Chinese lose eight in the air and on the ground.
• 6xB-25C's attack ships at Luganville, escorted by 11xP-38G. They are intercepted by 35xTony, which down two of the fighters and two of the bombers, and the rest of the bombers abort the attack.

Analysis: Lost my first P-38G's in a silly attack on some ships at Luganville. The bombers turned tail and ran, so it was a senseless loss.
But my troops at Adak Island now have plenty of supply so I'll finally make an attack there.
And at La Foa, there is another infantry division in place, so another attack will be made.
Also, I brought my carriers back to Pearl and forgot to turn off the upgrades, and now the whole TF has 12-16 System damage each. I guess it'll be a while before they leave port now...

[floydg]

October 17, 1942

Highlights: Adak Island liberated; Two American subs hit badly

• Japanese ASW south of Honshu scores two direct hits on the SS Shad and two on the SS Tautong. Both subs are badly damaged and must return to port immediately.
• The SS I-29 is located lingering around Wallis Island and takes a few rattling hits. The DD's attacking report seeing an oil slick.
• The BB Resolution and 3xDD bombard Japanese troops north of Perth, doing minor damage. Allied planes attack the troops, causing a few more casualties. The Japanese troops attack, but the Australians hold firm.
• The Japanese bomb the airbases at Yenen and Kweilin, doing moderate damage.
• The Allies soften up the Japanese troops at La Foa, Myitkyina and Adak Island with air bombardments, causing minor-to-moderate casualties.
• The Allies unloaded supply at Adak Island and several waves of Betty's attack. The DD Dunlap took three torpedoes and sunk, AK Arcata took one and the DD Dent took one.
• The Allies attack at Myitkyina, but are repulsed by the Japanese, who were hiding behind their fortifications.
• The attack by the Allies at La Foa was a success and the Japanese fell back into the jungle, taking over 2500 casualties to under 500 Allied.
• And the Americans attack at a Adak Island now that they are supplied, capturing the base and forcing the Japanese defenders back to the mountains.
• Spies report the airfield at Chengting expands to level 5 and the port at Attu expands to level 3. The airfield at Umnak Island expands to level 6 and the engineers stop building, as there is no more usable land.

Analysis: Finally succeeded at Adak Island. He still has some troops lingering, but they'll be flushed out soon. But I did lose a DD in the resupply mission... Now to let the troops rest a bit, load them up and then move on to the next base. But first, I need to neutralize his airpower in the area.
Also, my two subs lingering off the coast of Japan took some heavy damage. One Japanese APD did most of the damage to both subs (despite them being 120 miles apart). The Shad may not make it back to port, but I'm hoping. I have more subs coming in to take their place, but it'll be a little while.