Rising Sun, Falling Skies: BTSL Bigred vs John 3rd

[bigred]

42-8-7b:
Yes, it is all bad news in china..different story in Burma.

[John 3rd]

August 8, 1942

Hengyang falls on the 7th and the 8th brings a massive assault upon the Changsha defenses. For the first time Japan scores a 1-1 and drops the Forts to ZERO: Japan 3167 Cas 3 Vehicles to China's 2,962 (67 Squads) and 36 Guns. Game is just about up here.



Japanese reinforcements are flooding into Australia presently...

[John 3rd]

There are real benefits to having a good relationship with your opponent. In today's case, Paul called me yesterday explaining his schedule and that we might be able to bust out 1-2 additional turns. With that in mind I jumped on the morning turn and sent it out fast. Now I'll turn to Lew's turn and get him his.

[bigred]

42-8-8:

[John 3rd]

August 10, 1942

Both sides are starting to probe each other in Australia. It is getting interesting and am curious how quick this will escalate on both sides.

The attack on Changsha (shown above) was me getting greedy and THINKING I could snatch the the city with a second immediate Deliberate Attack. Didn't work. Will wait a few days and see if that does it.

[RangerJoe]

Probing . . . [X(]
Probing

[bigred]

42-8-12:
Jap SCTF stayed in Normanton hex this turn and was LowNav attacked by a b17sqn.

[bigred]

Down south at Clonclurry, One AUS AR regiment made a sacrifice shock attack to force the IJA 5th (bicycle) Div to reset movement to 0.


At Normanton the Japs a got a fort reduction with a 1-9 assault???
The IJA 2nd div is preceding thru the swamp adjacent to Normanton.

[bigred]

The graphics for the Cluncurry move from 3 turns ago. Still not sure I can pin the 5th div.
The Japs are operating in ARmor country. The AUS have deployed 2/3rds a division of armor into the 5th IJA id hex.

[John 3rd]

August 13, 1942

Changsha FALLS!!! Japanese Shock Attack scores a 7-1 result.

Japanese Losses
2739 and 9 Vehicles

Chinese Losses
50,227 (6,545 Squads destroyed), 405 Guns, and 10 Vehicles
Nine Corps and four HQ units surrender.


The DAM is OPEN now.

BANZAI!

[BBfanboy]

The odds of 1:8 apply for infantry not being able to reduce forts but I think combat engineer squads get their own chance to do so and with high experience and a really good die roll it can happen.

[bigred]

42/8/13:
Australia becomes the focus as china crumbles.

[bigred]

42/8/13b:

[bigred]

42/8/13c:
Changsha falls.

[Bif1961]

In the 1-8 attack results all the bodies piled up in the tank trap and filled it in making it ineffective! [:D]

[bigred]

42-8-16:
The IJA takes one on the chin in china, but John has plenty more reserves to take up the slack.

In AussieLand the now famous(90exp) 5th IJA Div is completely surrounded and out of supply.

The nearest units are 300kilos north at Normanton laying siege.

IJAAF is starting to react with long bombing runs and zero ftr sweeps from Portland Roads.

This position is so far from a Jap airfield John is unable to CAP the hex.

Allied b-17/25s have made daily bombing runs for a week.

[John 3rd]

August 16, 1942
Tennant Creek, Australia
2000 Hours (local)

IJN Commander Nojima walks down the dressed ranks of the 1st SNLF Assault (Paratrooper) Brigade. Nearly 2,500 masterfully trained troops stand and hear their commander exhort them on the upcoming drop.

"Men! We have waited for an opportunity to strike at our opponent for over six months. After our brilliantly successful drops in Mindanao and Java, we have trained for this moment of maximum effectiveness. You waited in Singapore, moved to Burma for three months, and have now come to Australia. Our brilliant Navy Minister Yamamoto has directly ordered our assault.

Today we strike Cloncurry! As you know over the last 10 days the army has allowed our 5th Infantry Division to serve as 'bait' to lure the Australian and American troops to deploy west of the town. Reconnaissance now reveals that the town is held by service troops.

The time is now!

This morning will see the total commitment of our Fighters and Bombers to soften up the enemy positions. We shall board our transports and drop on Cloncurry at dawn.

The Naval Minister and Emperor await our imminent success. To VICTORY Men!"

Banzai! BANZAI!! BANZAI!!!

(A total of 105 Tina and Topsy transports prepare to fly...)



Am running the turn now...

[John 3rd]

The Battle of Cloncurry
August 17, 1942

Weather is a fickle thing. The Paratroopers are in the clear at Tennant Creek and their transports lift off without issue. The flight to Cloncurry goes without a hitch.

The approach of so many transport aircraft cannot be hidden. Aussie AA Batteries open up and are able to shot down five Topsy and two Tina. The drop itself is near perfect. Troops land at the airfield and on the outskirts of town.

It is there that the plan goes slightly sideways.

The weather was clear to the west but NASTY in the NE. Neither Portland Roads or Cooktown are able to fly off a single Fighter or Bomber to soften the objective.

Additionally, two small Armored units are present and that is unexpected.

Though concerning, the 1250 troops of the drop manage to grab several objectives but cannot capture the airfield. As the fighting ramps up, several question what will the next day bring?



Japanese Shock Attack at Cloncurry: 1-2 result versus Fort 2. Japanese loses 205 troops to just 11 of the enemy.

DRAT!

[RangerJoe]

Those paratrooper are glad for the opportunity to DIE for their Emperor! [&o]

Edit for:

BTW, is the Japanese commander in the area going to change his name to MONTGOMERY? [&:]

[John 3rd]

That is funny. We'll entitle it An Emu Too Far!