Act III - DBB-C Uncivil Engineer (J) vs. christopher 1963 (A)

[RangerJoe]

ORIGINAL: Uncivil Engineer

I'll have what Ranger Joe is smoking!

Pegu can be invaded which some players may not realize. If you do that, you can then move on Rangoon and the rest of Burma while the Allied units at Moulmein may wonder if they will be fed again.

[Uncivil Engineer]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

ORIGINAL: Uncivil Engineer

I'll have what Ranger Joe is smoking!

Pegu can be invaded which some players may not realize. If you do that, you can then move on Rangoon and the rest of Burma while the Allied units at Moulmein may wonder if they will be fed again.

Yeah, I realize that. Problem is I have no ground units available to conduct that operation.

[Uncivil Engineer]

Jul 8, 1942

BB Prince of Wales was sighted by a sub at the entrance to Rangoon. It's task force may have disbanded in Moulmein port, because it later disappeared.

Betties flying from Kendari put 5 more bombs into BB California in port (dock?) at Koepang. Helens missed! Nells at Ambon didn't fly.

In China, another river was crossed, resulting in heavy casualties -

Ground combat at 76,51 (near Chihkiang)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 13881 troops, 122 guns, 75 vehicles, Assault Value = 458

Defending force 17128 troops, 168 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 355

Japanese adjusted assault: 189

Allied adjusted defense: 856

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 4

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), fatigue(-)

Japanese ground losses:
2508 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 277 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 30 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 19 disabled
Guns lost 10 (1 destroyed, 9 disabled)
Vehicles lost 12 (2 destroyed, 10 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
369 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 36 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 12 disabled

Assaulting units:
40th Division
23rd Tank Regiment
51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion

Defending units:
3rd New Chinese Corps
65th Chinese Corps
21st Chinese Corps
1st Chinese Cavalry Corps
4th Chinese Cavalry Corps
57th AT Gun Regiment
7th Artillery Regiment

The Chinese counterattacked at Sian (why?), destroying a Japanese engineer unit -

Ground combat at Sian (83,41)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 34972 troops, 240 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1096

Defending force 49128 troops, 467 guns, 304 vehicles, Assault Value = 870

Allied adjusted assault: 413

Japanese adjusted defense: 671

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
1358 casualties reported
Squads: 11 destroyed, 19 disabled
Non Combat: 37 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 13 destroyed, 6 disabled
Vehicles lost 15 (9 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Allied ground losses:
3087 casualties reported
Squads: 10 destroyed, 365 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 34 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 21 disabled

Assaulting units:
48th Chinese Corps
3rd Chinese Corps
23rd Chinese Corps
77th Chinese Corps
96th Chinese Corps
30th Chinese Corps
19th Chinese Corps
29th Chinese Corps
13th Chinese Corps
34th Chinese Corps
33rd Chinese Corps
98th Chinese Corps
24th Group Army
37th Group Army
4th Chinese Base Force
39th Group Army
31st Group Army
6th Group Army
20th Artillery Regiment
6th Chinese Base Force
36th Group Army
56th AT Gun Regiment
7th Group Army
10th Chinese Base Force

Defending units:
9th Ind Engineer Regiment destroyed
37th/B Division
16th RGC Temp. Division
6th Tank Regiment
35th Division
10th Tank Regiment
41st Division
28th Division
37th/A Division
3rd Tank Regiment
37th/C Division
1st Army
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

This Japanese force has been moving east in combat mode for a couple days, making 5 miles per day. This attack did NOT change that, but they still have 26 miles to go.

Allied reinforcements continued to land at Adak, but still no artillery bombardment or other attack. The Japanese have very little supply and AV of ~35.

[Uncivil Engineer]

The situation around Sian -

[RangerJoe]

ORIGINAL: Uncivil Engineer

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

ORIGINAL: Uncivil Engineer

I'll have what Ranger Joe is smoking!

Pegu can be invaded which some players may not realize. If you do that, you can then move on Rangoon and the rest of Burma while the Allied units at Moulmein may wonder if they will be fed again.

Yeah, I realize that. Problem is I have no ground units available to conduct that operation.

Well then, here are some suggestions:

1) Bomb the Moulmein port to put the hurt on any ships there, if you can.
2) Run a Fast Transport TF there to drop off supplies. Have it "Remain On Station."
3) Have another Fast Transport TF there as well with supplies that does not unload but also remains on station.
4) Have air units on CAP over Moulmein and possibly some our your TFs there, especially for the next part.
5) Have the Fast Transport TF that unloaded supplies load part of a unit, combine the two fast Transport TFs.
6) Have the Fast Transport TF then invade Pegu - especially if there is little to nothing there.

You may also be able to repeat that for Rangoon.

Also, try to bring up your paratroopers if you are not going to use them in China or elsewhere. With all of those Allied units in Moulmein, if you can trap them or even seriously delay their withdrawl, you should be able to clean up Burma. Then bomb the cut off units with even a few aircraft to help use up their supplies as well as slowing them down some more. Vary the altitudes, the types of aircraft, and the bases if possible so there will be as many attacks as is possible. Just LRCAP the hex if there is a possibility of enemy fighters and if so, do not bomb every turn.

Start your AA units moving to the theatre along with units radars and searchlights to help protect the Magwe oil production.

You might even find parts of India relatively undefended so if you can bring in other units, start moving them to the area.

[Uncivil Engineer]

Jul 9, 1942

US BBs bombarded Adak, as more Allied reinforcements unloaded. US cruisers bombarded Lautem, leaving before the Japanese battleships arrived.

The Yamato TF engaged and sank the 4 PT boats at Lautem.

Nells scored 6 more hits on BB California at Koepang.

A deliberate attack at Moulmein nearly destroyed our 4th Division -

Ground combat at Moulmein (55,55)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 50968 troops, 649 guns, 268 vehicles, Assault Value = 1142

Defending force 52537 troops, 1077 guns, 981 vehicles, Assault Value = 1246

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 445

Allied adjusted defense: 2829

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 6 (fort level 1)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
7561 casualties reported
Squads: 137 destroyed, 182 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 39 disabled
Engineers: 18 destroyed, 80 disabled
Guns lost 49 (7 destroyed, 42 disabled)
Vehicles lost 15 (8 destroyed, 7 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
478 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 62 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 10 disabled
Vehicles lost 12 (1 destroyed, 11 disabled)

Assaulting units:
4th Division
56th Division
Imperial Guards Division
1st Tank Regiment
33rd Division
55th Engineer Regiment
3rd Mortar Battalion
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
35th Field AA Battalion
25th Army
55th Mountain Gun Regiment
5th Mortar Battalion
21th JNAF AF Unit

Defending units:
16th Australian Brigade
7th Armoured Brigade
25th Australian Brigade
2/2nd Pioneer Battalion
22nd (East African) Brigade
26th Indian Brigade
18th Australian Brigade
18th British Division
16th Indian Brigade
63rd Indian Brigade
IV Indian Corps
1st Burma Auxiliary AA Regiment
2/11th Fld RAA Regiment
2/1st Lt AA Regiment
2/13th Fld RAA Regiment
2/9th Fld RAA Regiment
1st Indian Coastal Artillery Regiment
101st RAF Base Force
85th British AT Gun Regiment
108th RAF Base Force
77th Heavy AA Regiment
2/2nd Hy AA Regiment
Pathan Construction Battalion
27th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
6th Medium Regiment
108th RN Base Force

4 Div is now 16 AV.

[Uncivil Engineer]

This map shows the current situation around Moulmein/Rangoon. The British control all ports north of Tavoy, so loading troops at Moulmein would take forever. Although this map shows no units in the bases throughout Burma, that's because they haven't been reconned lately; they are all defended. The BB Prince of Wales and other British battleships are still afloat; our starting conditions allowed Force Z to hightail it away from Singapore. BC Repulse has been sunk, along with 4 other Brit BBs. The Brit carriers have been damaged, and 3 are reported sunk, the last yesterday when it wasn't even attacked! So, I have to assume that some carriers are operational.

CVs Hiryu and Soryu have 5 more days to complete the July upgrade at Singapore. BB Kirishima has one more day to finish repairs, making 2 BBs available at Singapore. The other CV/CVLs are either at Soerabaja in repair (days), or departing Soerabaja EAST to join the battleships operating around Timor. They can all be available for a Burma/India op in 2 weeks (+/-), along with the 5 BBs around Timor.

Much of what Ranger Joe suggested has been done. The Brits own Moulmein airfield, so putting CAP over it would be LRCAP. Some sweeps of this CAP have been successful, but bombing not so much. Continuous bombing has been unsustainable.

The last attack at Moulmein left 4 Div a wreck. During the July 10 turn most of the units at Moulmein will begin a withdrawal. There are 3 roads from Moulmein that need to be covered; the main road south to Tavoy, and the minor roads east to Rahaeng/Pisanuloke and south to Bangkok. Other than the units departing Moulmein, the defense of Thailand is the Thai Army, which is not much. If I were the Brits I would attack inland to take out the northern Thai airfields before going south down the coast. The Brits have more and better tanks, and as long as they stay on a road they can make good progress. Beat up Japanese divisions won't stop them (Imperial Guard, 33, and 56 Divs are at about 1/2 strength; 4 Div is combat ineffective. 18 Div (full strength) is just east of Pegu and will need to fall back on Chiang Mai.

I'll resend the Glen-equipped subs that are available to recon the Indian coast. Only a quick capture of Calcutta would stop a British offensive in Thailand, in my opinion, and is probably not sustainable (unless Calcutta has an abundance of supply to be captured). Should naval operations around Rangoon seriously degrade the British naval and air forces, only then can Japanese army offensive operations in Burma/India resume. So, the army will withdraw and defend until the navy can do some damage to the British fleet and air force.

[BBfanboy]

I am pretty sure Rangoon is on an estuary - max ship size 15,000 tons. PoW went elsewhere.

[Uncivil Engineer]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

I am pretty sure Rangoon is on an estuary - max ship size 15,000 tons. PoW went elsewhere.

You are correct, battleships CANNOT go into Rangoon. The PoW TF is at the entrance to the Rangoon estuary; sitting there defending all approaches to Moulmein, Rangoon, and Pegu. See my previous map. BTW, that TF does not have 4 BBs that the search shows; only PoW.

Submarine attack near Rangoon at 54,54 on Jul 9, 1942

Japanese Ships
SS I-29, hits 23, and is sunk

Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales
CA Exeter
CA Devonshire
CL Glasgow
CL Dauntless
DD Arrow
DD Isis
DD Inconstant
DD Hotspur, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Fortune

[RangerJoe]

I see the situation better in that part of Burma now.

Recon every base that you can in one turn, whether or not you want to try and take it.

Try marching a small unit to Tuang Gyi while paratroopers try to take bases. If nothing else, cut off the Burma Road.

You can also go to Ramree Island and invade there, then go to Akyab by invasion as well. It all depends upon how much effort you want to put there. If you can, you may be able to get air superiority as needed and then you can cut the flow of supplies to the Burma Coast.

[Uncivil Engineer]

Jul 10, 1942

A small TF was formed at Dili around BB Nagato to hammer Lautem before our shock attack -

Night Naval bombardment of Lautem at 72,115

Japanese Ships
BB Nagato
CA Tone

Allied ground losses:
213 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 26 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 5 (2 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Vehicles lost 8 (1 destroyed, 7 disabled)

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 5
Port hits 6
Port fuel hits 2

E13A1 Jake acting as spotter for BB Nagato
BB Nagato firing at 28th Australian Battalion
CA Tone firing at Lautem

Ground combat at Lautem (72,115)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 11129 troops, 138 guns, 132 vehicles, Assault Value = 278

Defending force 2355 troops, 37 guns, 30 vehicles, Assault Value = 53

Japanese adjusted assault: 69

Allied adjusted defense: 97

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 1)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
44 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Vehicles lost 6 (6 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
593 casualties reported
Squads: 20 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 13 disabled
Guns lost 12 (10 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Assaulting units:
8th Tank Regiment
48th Division
2nd Tank Regiment
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
Sparrow Force
28th Australian Battalion
1e-VLG-II Sup Afd
46th Const Rgt /2
43rd Const Rgt /1
SW Pacific Theater /3

A sub lurking at the entrance to Rangoon put a torpedo in CV Indomitable (I knew it wasn't sunk).

Sub attack near Rangoon at 53,55

Japanese Ships
SS I-165

Allied Ships
CV Indomitable, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
HDML 1102

Ammo storage explosion on CV Indomitable
SS I-165 launches 4 torpedoes at CV Indomitable

Nells, Helens, and Betties put 5 more bombs on BB California in Koepang port.

After seeing our disastrous attack at Moulmein yesterday, and the new movement ticks on the map, the Allies attacked -

Ground combat at Moulmein (55,55)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 41384 troops, 905 guns, 529 vehicles, Assault Value = 1323

Defending force 49709 troops, 662 guns, 345 vehicles, Assault Value = 760

Allied adjusted assault: 1206

Japanese adjusted defense: 609

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), op mode(-), leaders(+), preparation(-)
fatigue(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
706 casualties reported
Squads: 10 destroyed, 43 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 12 disabled
Vehicles lost 27 (16 destroyed, 11 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
2110 casualties reported
Squads: 14 destroyed, 97 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 47 disabled
Engineers: 6 destroyed, 23 disabled
Guns lost 58 (2 destroyed, 56 disabled)

Assaulting units:
16th Indian Brigade
18th British Division
18th Australian Brigade
22nd (East African) Brigade
7th Armoured Brigade
16th Australian Brigade
25th Australian Brigade
26th Indian Brigade
21st Australian Brigade
2/2nd Pioneer Battalion
63rd Indian Brigade
108th RAF Base Force
1st Indian Coastal Artillery Regiment
2/1st Lt AA Regiment
77th Heavy AA Regiment
27th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
2/9th Fld RAA Regiment
2/11th Fld RAA Regiment
101st RAF Base Force
2/2nd Hy AA Regiment
Pathan Construction Battalion
6th Medium Regiment
1st Burma Auxiliary AA Regiment
2/13th Fld RAA Regiment
IV Indian Corps
85th British AT Gun Regiment
108th RN Base Force

Defending units:
1st Tank Regiment
56th Division
33rd Division
4th/B Division
55th Engineer Regiment
4th/A Division
Imperial Guards Division
4th/C Division
5th Mortar Battalion
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
3rd Mortar Battalion
35th Field AA Battalion
55th Mountain Gun Regiment
25th Army
21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
21th JNAF AF Unit

We'll now walk out of there in combat mode. BTW, some of the units have not yet begun to move; I wanted to give those moving to cover Rahaeng more time on the minor road.

[Uncivil Engineer]

Jul 11, 1942

Bases captured today: Green Is.

The fast battleships ran down from Lautem past Babar yesterday, but didn't encounter the Allied ships that had been spotted by naval search. Today, the Yamato TF went to Babar, again seeking to destroy a small TF seen there -

Night Time Surface Combat, near Babar at 76,117, Range 10,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Yamato
BB Ise
CA Atago
DD Isonami
DD Shikinami
DD Akebono
DD Yayoi
DD Yukaze
DD Kuretake

Allied Ships
AM Jan van Amstel, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
xAKL Kooyong, Shell hits 22, and is sunk
xAKL William McArthur, Shell hits 23, and is sunk

Reduced sighting due to 3% moonlight
Tanaka, Raizo crosses the 'T'

But, then US battleships appear-

Night Time Surface Combat, near Babar at 76,117, Range 8,000 Yards

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
SOC-1 Seagull: 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships
BB Yamato, Shell hits 9
BB Ise, Shell hits 1
CA Atago
DD Isonami
DD Shikinami
DD Akebono
DD Yayoi
DD Yukaze
DD Kuretake

Allied Ships
BB Mississippi, Shell hits 3, heavy fires
BB North Carolina, Shell hits 6
CA Pensacola, Shell hits 11, and is sunk
CA Minneapolis, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Russell
DD Walke
DD Dunlap
DD Fanning
DD Stack, Shell hits 1
DD Sterett
DD Smith, Shell hits 3
DD Cassin
DD Farragut, Shell hits 3
DD Brooks

Tanaka retires, but the Allies pursue -

Night Time Surface Combat, near Babar at 75,117, Range 8,000 Yards

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
OS2U-3 Kingfisher: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
BB Yamato, on fire
BB Ise, Shell hits 3, on fire
CA Atago
DD Isonami
DD Shikinami
DD Akebono
DD Yayoi
DD Yukaze
DD Kuretake, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
BB Mississippi, Shell hits 19, and is sunk
BB North Carolina, Shell hits 9, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Minneapolis, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Russell
DD Walke, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Dunlap
DD Fanning
DD Stack, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Sterett
DD Smith
DD Cassin
DD Farragut, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Brooks

Reduced sighting due to 3% moonlight
Scott, Norman crosses the 'T'

Later in the day, back near Lautem -

Sub attack near Lautem at 73,115

Japanese Ships
BB Yamato, Torpedo hits 1
BB Ise
CA Atago
DD Kuretake
DD Yukaze
DD Shikinami
DD Yayoi
DD Akebono

Allied Ships
SS KXVI

SS KXVI launches 6 torpedoes at BB Yamato

At the end of the day Yamato and Ise will be spending some considerable time in the yards at Nagasaki and Hiroshima -


Betties scored another hit on BB California at Koepang.

Vacant Green Is. was captured by paradrop.

Canton airfield reached level 7.

CVL Ryujo began its 15 day upgrade at Singapore.

Our CV TF ended the day north of Koepang, but too far from the US battleships to attack.

[BBfanboy]

Surprised that both sides saddled their fast BB with a slow one! The Japanese edge in crew experience and tonnage showed.

[Uncivil Engineer]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Surprised that both sides saddled their fast BB with a slow one! The Japanese edge in crew experience and tonnage showed.

The Yamato is only 2 knots faster than the Ise; does that make it fast? I consider the 30 knot BBs fast and they are paired.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Uncivil Engineer

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Surprised that both sides saddled their fast BB with a slow one! The Japanese edge in crew experience and tonnage showed.

The Yamato is only 2 knots faster than the Ise; does that make it fast? I consider the 30 knot BBs fast and they are paired.

The British KGV class and the US North Carolina/South Dakota classes were rated at 27 knots and considered fast BBs. The US slow BB in the battle would have been running at 21 knots so it was at a major disadvantage.

Two knots doesn't sound like much but if you are trying to catch or flee from the enemy, or cross the T, it can mean the difference between victory or defeat.

[RangerJoe]

I was thinking "overkill" with the first combat then I saw the next ones. [&o]

[Uncivil Engineer]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

ORIGINAL: Uncivil Engineer

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Surprised that both sides saddled their fast BB with a slow one! The Japanese edge in crew experience and tonnage showed.

The Yamato is only 2 knots faster than the Ise; does that make it fast? I consider the 30 knot BBs fast and they are paired.

The British KGV class and the US North Carolina/South Dakota classes were rated at 27 knots and considered fast BBs. The US slow BB in the battle would have been running at 21 knots so it was at a major disadvantage.

Two knots doesn't sound like much but if you are trying to catch or flee from the enemy, or cross the T, it can mean the difference between victory or defeat.

Sorry, I can't explain the actions of my opponent.

[Q-Ball]

YAMATO is a beast that you can't face 1 on 1 as Allies and expect to come out ahead...any repair is a long repair, but that's better than MISSISSIPPI and NORTH CAROLINA.....NC looks like she will be toast soon.

I also hate as Allies mixing speed and caliber like that.....a fast 16in BB and slow 14in BB is a bad combo. But the speed is the real issue there.

[Uncivil Engineer]

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

YAMATO is a beast that you can't face 1 on 1 as Allies and expect to come out ahead...any repair is a long repair, but that's better than MISSISSIPPI and NORTH CAROLINA.....NC looks like she will be toast soon.

I also hate as Allies mixing speed and caliber like that.....a fast 16in BB and slow 14in BB is a bad combo. But the speed is the real issue there.

My opponent (the Allied player) has had the turn for over 36 hours - a clear indication that he is not pleased with the combat result (in my ~2 year experience with him). Losing the Mississippi is not that big a deal (had we used the historical start he could have lost it at Pearl Harbor), but it is an indication that North Carolina may be in trouble. California at Koepang has also been getting many bomb hits from Army and Navy land-based bombers.

Edit to add: 2 seconds after I hit OK to post this the turn arrived (with congrats to ADM Tanaka).

[Uncivil Engineer]

Jul 12, 1942

Fast transports arrived at Lautem with supply. Sallies from Koepang but another bomb on BB California. Ha-45 engine research advanced a month from Apr to Mar '43 (Franks, Georges, and others).

Our 4th Division and 25th Army HQ left Moulmein on the main road to Tavoy.

BB North Carolina is reported sunk, but I'm not yet convinced.

BBs Yamato and Ise rearmed and refueled at Kendari, and will now head north for repair.