Pauk's corner: sake break for Japanese fanboys

[Sneer]

will be difficult to take PM so late if he wants to defend and you are commited to Australia but good luck
How do you estimate your chances to capture and keep North Oz in next 6 months ?
is Timor secured and built up ?
how about Salomons ?
His attack on gilberts shows he finds you overstretched - you must pull him out - it is too early to loose gilberts as it should be very costly for allies to be ready for Central Pac offensive
I guess you accelerated Hiyo and Junyo and soon mini KB will be strenghtened

[Sneer]

if your forward base is akyab consider this base out of use in autumn 42 and allied air offensive to Mandalay
how many commonwealth troops were evacuated from Malaya and Burma to India?

[PzB74]

Knowing how aggressive Andy is it's important to pause him around Tarawa - if not he'll be in Kwajalein within a year!
First half of 42 is the right time to hurt the Allies, so go for it 110%!

Looks like Perth is stubborn, if he got large amounts of supplies there reinforcements will be plentyfull.

[pauk]

Sneer, I don't have any illusions about Akyab and Mandalay - i'm not going to defend them if allied air offensive concentrate on these bases - and i expect that this offensive would start in next few days - after the Zero bonus completely expire. The reason is simple - i haven't got advanced army fighters yet and not going to sacrify crack Oscar pilots for nothing. They will be more useful in Tony and Tojo cockpit. [;)]

I don't know if i have to afraid invasion on Burma and Malaya - sunk many transports at the begining of the game and Australia-India sea route is closed. But i can't affort myself to get suprised here and that's the reason i have there 3 divs and many smaller units (if Andy opens the hell gate with his 4E bombers they will have more targets).

I dont know how/if he evacuated troops from Malaya - i guess that he evacuated almost all units via sub transports. Troops from Burma were also evacuated, but they got serious beating with tk rtg and mix rtg.

Thanks, PzB my thought is exatcly what you said and that is why i sending B KB reinforced with Junyo (Hiyo will come in next 3 months)... When i got familiar with Andy's style i made overall strategic plan - capturing the north Australia, PM and then wait and take only preventive strikes knowing he will came to me...

But Perth really messed my strategy and now i have to improvise...which certaintly isn't best thing to do especially for the Japan[;)]



AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/29/42

AUSTRALIA AND SRA

To be honest, didn't expect that my second bombardment run would went with good results too... But, Andy have lots of support troops at Derby...

Naval bombardment of Derby, at 24,85

Japanese Ships
BB Mutsu
BB Hyuga
CA Maya
BB Ise
BB Nagato

Allied ground losses:
2511 casualties reported
Guns lost 21
Vehicles lost 12

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 44
Port hits 8
Port supply hits 12

"Desert rats" in the inner Australia got better odds this time

Ground combat at 10,94

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 3904 troops, 11 guns, 63 vehicles

Defending force 12018 troops, 136 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
48 casualties reported
Guns lost 7

Allied ground losses:
318 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Vehicles lost 8

I've waited till Andy get confindent that i wouldn't put LR CAP over Lautem. Today 17 Zeros ambushed his Mitchells and Hudsons but results aren't spectacular - 3 Mitchells and one Hudson are lost.


PACIFIC

Nothing important happend last turn - my carriers withdrew too early - but this time i would be in perfect position to strike his forces at/near Tarawa. Must to be mentioned that my planes did not fly from Maloelap although Mavis groups found lot's of target (see picture). I've disposed Goto and put more skilled R ADM in charge of Air HQ - i need perfect performance of my naval and ground based air groups!





As you may see from the picture i've decided to go 4 hexes from the Tarawa. It wasn't an easy decision but my view is:

- didn't recon Apamama last turn - don't want to face with 50 enemy fighters and 50 dive bombers.
- enemy fleet is moving northeast. If my recon is right he is going to Makin and i will be in more than good position to sink his transports.
- if he going to Tarawa B KB can reach them too with torpedo bombers but i will stay outside his TBs or DBs from Apamama
- fleet east of Tarawa is Hornet TF, i'm sure. If Andy choose to cover transports at Tarawa B KB will engage Hornet.
- and the last but not the least - I think that Andy don't know B KB is in the area. So maybe he left/forgot to change Hornet react on 0. But even if he set there is still chance that his commander is the agressive one and would react one hex towards B KB - and that would be perfect!

Yeah, i'm great theoretician, i know [8|], and can't be sure that things will happens as i described - that's why this game is BEST! lots of planing, lots of thinking, lots of playing cat and mouse, but outcame will suprise you...

Let's pray that my ground based aircrafts would fly tomorrow...


Naval bombardment of Tarawa, at 85,91 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

7 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
CL Raleigh, Shell hits 2
CL Detroit, Shell hits 1
BB Mississippi
BB New Mexico
BB California
BB Arizona

Japanese ground losses:
152 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 4
Port hits 2
Port supply hits 2



CHINA

Air attack on Kweiyang with 67 bombers and Chungking with 24 Helens (AF damage 100).

I'm puting some pressure on Yenen too. HQ unit can't repulse my bde.

[boba]

Yeah, i'm great theoretician, i know , and can't be sure that things will happens as i described - that's why this game is BEST! lots of planing, lots of thinking, lots of playing cat and mouse, but outcame will suprise you...

Let's pray that my ground based aircrafts would fly tomorrow...

Since my current PBEM game is on hold, I must admit I'm using this thread as "replecmant for my WitP addiction" [:D] . Can't wait to see what will happen near Tarawa...

[String]

I've found extensive planning and relying on LBA flying on a given turn from a given base being tricky at best.

I've personally always favored the use of the sledgehammer approach. If you overcompensate threefold there's little chance of stuff going wrong [:D]

[PzB74]

I agree with you String, but as your opponent grows stronger it may no longer be possible to overcompensate threefold..!
Then you got nothing but cunning planning and luck to fall back upon [&o]

[Sneer]

be careful with burma theater
it will certainly be a target of allied offensive
too many AAR shows that neglecting burma problem brings totally unhistorical allied reconquista
and full head of problems

[pauk]

thanks guys....

Sneer, i'm totally aware that Burma will be a problem in the (near) future.... but i choosed to go with offensive in the other theatres rather than dig in Burma because i still have the edge...

String, you are right, overcomiting is better than undercomiting - but i don't have sufficient force in the Pacific to do what you suggest.

The only thing i could do in this particular area is to overload Maloelap (lvl 4 AF) with planes but i never do such things - i consider it gamey....

So i've done the best I could do there, i think - if everything gone perfect i would became a top, intelligent, clever, cunning.. blah, blah, player... but if god of Fortune screw me here, hey, i can always whin about bad luck and the game engine that's hates me[:D]

[pauk]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/30/42


PACIFIC

i'm most misfortunate player on the world, game engine sucks![:D]

Seriously, sorry guys, i'm going to dissapoint you - nothing happends. Well almost nothing. LBA flew from Maloelap, but B KB didn't attack nothing - search planes didn't find anything at Tarawa although there was enough valuable targets and withdrew towards Kwajelein. Unfortunatly, Andy is now aware - Jake was shot down by the enemy CAP over Gilberts and this means that my TF is visible to him...

Day Air attack on TF, near Apamama at 86,92

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 62
G3M Nell x 3

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 6
P-36A Mohawk x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 3 destroyed
P-36A Mohawk: 19 destroyed

Allied Ships
DD Dale, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x G3M Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet

Another not so balanced attack, but my Zeros done their job. Enemy lost 28 planes in A2A combat today (including Perth), while my A2A losses are 3 (bombers). I have lots of ops losses (8 - 4 of them are Zero) so total outcome for today is 31-14.


Day Air attack on TF, near Tarawa at 85,91

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6
G3M Nell x 12

Allied aircraft
F2A Buffalo x 11
P-40B Tomahawk x 5
P-40E Warhawk x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 9 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40B Tomahawk: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CA New Orleans
CA Minneapolis, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Hm... Minneapolis recived one torpedo (severe damage) and doubt that she is that heavily damaged.

RO-66 recived 8 hits from enemy DDs and sinks.

Tarawa falls. Now what to do here? I can not start big offensive on Gilberts which means Andy will dug here. My KB is still around the Perth and even if i send KB to Pacific now it will arrive to Marshalls when Andy would have AF 4 size on Tarawa and Apamama. The only way to delay him there is to cut sea routes to Gilberts. Ok, i will try to build defence on Marshalls but have to be prepared that i could lost them even before 1943.

Andy was quite suprised with number of my Zeros at the Marshalls - i've told him that Japan recive several Zero Daitais in the April.


AUSTRALIA AND SRA

Two Kate groups bombed resources at Darwin and 160 VP scored. Andy told me that Perth is now in the range of big HQ and he expect that i would struggle at Perth.

I will try another attack, but this time with all forces that i have there, and some of ac groups will bomb his ground units.


Ground combat at 10,94

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 3459 troops, 11 guns, 53 vehicles

Defending force 11854 troops, 121 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 3 to 1

Japanese ground losses:
68 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Allied ground losses:
81 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 6

Bde in the desert can't withdraw....

Day Air attack on Perth , at 7,100

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36
B5N Kate x 48

Allied aircraft
Brewster 339D x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Brewster 339D: 2 destroyed

Resources hits 11

Aircraft Attacking:

All B5N Kate bombing at 12000 feet

Andy trying to disrupt my units at Perth - leaking CAP from KB did not stop all his bombers so i've ordered LR CAP over Perth for tomorrow (Hiryu group).


Day Air attack on 56th Division, at 7,100

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 23

Allied aircraft
Brewster 339D x 3
LB-30 Liberator x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Brewster 339D: 3 destroyed
LB-30 Liberator: 5 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
19 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x LB-30 Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Imperial Guards Division, at 7,100

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 48

Allied aircraft
LB-30 Liberator x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
LB-30 Liberator: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
10 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x LB-30 Liberator bombing at 6000 feet

Mitchells again visited Lautem - this time i had no CAP over the base. Hm, lots of fighters (150) and bombers (100) at Darwin and i expect that this nasty Scot could bomb Koepang.

That is the last thing i could wish - i need that AF for support of my invasion on Derby. Transports are now at half way from Derby but they will wait till another bombardment run clears the path to Derby beaches.

[pauk]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/01/42


Attack on Derby airfield. My invasion fleet will arrive 3 hexes from Derby tomorrow and the day after that, i will bombard base with BB TF.


Day Air attack on Derby , at 24,85

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 11
G3M Nell x 26
Ki-21 Sally x 83
Ki-49 Helen x 23
Ki-46-II Dinah x 5

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses


Allied ground losses:
43 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 61

For a loss of two kates i scored 170 VP with strategic bombing of Perth. None of Liberators sent on ground attack at Perth go trough my Zero umbrella.

Last two miserable performance of my "Invasion group Perth" army forced me to take additional measures. Few CAs will bombard Perth, same as Kates from KB (half of them are on naval attack). Let's hope that they will disrupt enemy enough so i can get favourable odds tomorrow - deliberate attack ordered for all units.

My "Desert" brigade struggles agains Aussie Cav bde and US tk rtg - they have no supply, thats why....

Ground combat at 10,94

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 3411 troops, 12 guns, 49 vehicles

Defending force 11675 troops, 111 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 6 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
97 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

Allied ground losses:
49 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Vehicles lost 2


PACIFIC

Andy dealing with reamins of Tarawa defence forces, but some of them are still alive. Baby KB will move even closer to Tarawa (3 hex) and with more planes on naval search (Vals on 40 % i think) should found their target. One Zero and Nell daitai are on full alert at Maloelap. Let's see if something can happen here, finally (but in my favour, of course).

Brigade is loading at Truk and will reinforce Lunga - some of naval ground units will be sent back to Truk to recuperate.

[pauk]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/02/42


PACIFIC

My brave troops at Tarawa are evaporated- but their heroic sacrify will be not forgoten! I finally caught enemy ships at Tarawa, and this was a last turn where i could caught Andy by suprise- He transfered last turn Catalinas to Makin, and that's make my victory even sweeter...

Here comes first strike from Maloelap... two transports aren't so valuable target...but...


Day Air attack on TF, near Tarawa at 85,91

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 24
G3M Nell x 16

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 6
P-36A Mohawk x 10
P-39D Airacobra x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed
P-36A Mohawk: 1 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied Ships
AK Minnesotan, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Coloradan, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

... then Baby KB strikes! I think that New Orleans is lost too.

Day Air attack on TF, near Tarawa at 85,91

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 32
D3A Val x 12
B5N Kate x 51

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 4
P-39D Airacobra x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
D3A Val: 4 damaged
B5N Kate: 2 destroyed, 13 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 4 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra: 11 destroyed

Allied Ships
AP Largs Bay, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DD Selfridge
DM Sicard, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CA New Orleans, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
DD Phelps, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CA San Francisco, Torpedo hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
AP President Polk


Allied ground losses:
88 casualties reported

Afternoon phase - coup the grace from Baby KB...

Day Air attack on TF, near Tarawa at 85,91

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 31
B5N Kate x 11

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 3
P-36A Mohawk x 12
P-39D Airacobra x 5

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 3 destroyed
P-36A Mohawk: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
P-39D Airacobra: 2 destroyed

Allied Ships
DD Dale, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Schley, heavy damage






Not a bad at all - i've lost 2 kates, one val and one zero... the harvest was good.

It could be even better, but i've made mistake when i sent Yamashiro TF to refuel at Kwajelein - I would have nice opportunity to caught some ships at Tarawa.... but, dear Pauk, don't be greedy..

The question is what to do now - should continue attacks with B KB? Andy don't have many fighters at Tarawa (25) and they are demoralised now. Also, i don't think that he have reserve at Apamama. The only place where he could have more planes is Nanomea so even if he transfer them to Apamama (AF 2) they should be fatigued.

The only problem is that i don't know where are his carriers. I'm not so worried about Hornet - but he had enough time to bring Sara and York (or whatever) to Pacific (from southern Australia where they spoted for the last time)....

so, guys, what do you think?


AUSTRALIA

I'm not so excited only about good strike in Pacific - attack on Perth gives me a reason to cheer. Kates didnt flew but everything went good.

Bombardment run softens enemy defence....


Naval bombardment of Perth, at 7,100

Allied aircraft losses
LB-30 Liberator: 1 destroyed
Brewster 339D: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Takao
CA Chokai
CA Chikuma
CA Mogami

Allied ground losses:
650 casualties reported
Guns lost 11
Vehicles lost 3

Airbase hits 8
Runway hits 17

And then comes ground attack - interestingly my units aren't too much disrupted (20-30 i think) so i will attack tomorrow too. The only question is to shock or not to shock?


Ground combat at Perth

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 138069 troops, 1125 guns, 298 vehicles

Defending force 30400 troops, 205 guns, 68 vehicles

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2


Japanese ground losses:
2257 casualties reported
Guns lost 55
Vehicles lost 4

Allied ground losses:
2051 casualties reported
Guns lost 65
Vehicles lost 17

Desert rats repulsed allied shock attack (tk rtg)


Ground combat at 10,94

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 700 troops, 0 guns, 46 vehicles

Defending force 11483 troops, 103 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 0 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
34 casualties reported
Guns lost 4


Allied ground losses:
194 casualties reported
Guns lost 10

CHINA

Usual air raids on Chungking and Chengtu. I doubt i will be able to capture Yenen - Chinese moved in the city before i managed to shocked them. Anyway, it is not a bad situation there - perhaps Andy will send reinforcements there from Homan...

[boba]

The only problem is that i don't know where are his carriers. I'm not so worried about Hornet - but he had enough time to bring Sara and York (or whatever) to Pacific (from southern Australia where they spoted for the last time)....

so, guys, what do you think?

I'd pull away Baby KB, as I understand he has his carriers intact so far, right (or have I forgot something)? If I'm right , he probably has some of his carriers around Tarawa... so I don't think that Baby KB can whitstand combined LBA and carrier attacks. Your CVEs and CVLs are too fragile for such engagment. So... get tham back to safety and bring big boys (KB) to the teather... they are wasting their time at Perth.

[hawker]

You just cant afford in this stage of war that he is feel comfortable in Marshalls. Keep pressure and bring part of KB in Marshalls.
I suggest that you form historically "carrier division 5" with Zuikaku and Shokaku and send them to Marshalls. These two carriers with experience pilots is far better than US CVs and you will make diference in Marshalls.
DONT LET HIM TO FEEL SAFE THERE IN 1942.
Form invasion fleet under protection of "carrier division 5" and retake Tarawa,that will be good for morale,if you not prepare for loss of centra pacific early in 1943.

[pauk]

ORIGINAL: boba
If I'm right , he probably has some of his carriers around Tarawa... so I don't think that Baby KB can whitstand combined LBA and carrier attacks. Your CVEs and CVLs are too fragile for such engagment. So... get tham back to safety and bring big boys (KB) to the teather... they are wasting their time at Perth.

I suspect that Andy could have more than Hornet around Tarawa too...and last turn Apamama become lvl 3 AF - so yes i've decided to withdrew my B KB to safe waters, while LBA from Maloelap would try to catch something.

Boba and hawker, you are both right - i need big boys in Pacific. But i can not move them before i capture Perth. I need them to escort my divisions from Perth to Derby.(my guess is that he have some cariers in India and south Australia).

Hawk, we are agree totaly - Sho and Zui will sail from tomorrow towards Pacific, rest of are more than enough for escort my transports.

I would like to keep pressure at Tarawa, but i can not retake Tarawa now. My plan to starve Tarawa but this will possible only when my beloved KB arrives in the Pacific...

But do not worry, guys, i have one small sneaky operation at Tarawa area. Nothing big, but sneaky....


[;)]

[String]

BAH!

It's still may 42!

CRUSH HIM!

Retake Tarawa, Make him Pay!

The combined fleet and 4-5 divisions loaded on 250-300 transports (to ensure 1 turn unload) will do short work of that allied thrust. But when you do react, react in a single violent blow.

I hope to see this very soon.

[hawker]

i agree with String,make him pay for Tarawa.
Dont take any prisoners[;)].

[pauk]

Yeah guys thats all nice and that stuff, but where i could found these 4-5 divisions for Tarawa? I'm having fun at Australia where i assigned 9 divisions. Two are in Burma, and one in Singapore.

Ok, i will try to be constructive - i can use 20th div from Kwajalein and even could pull div from Singapore, so that's two divisions. I can not release div from Kwantung (still 2000 PP short - almost two months). So i can use one or two divisions from Australia but it will take two months before they arrive in Marshalls.

Your thoughts are intersting, but can i attack Gilberts in July 42? I have no idea, what do you think?




AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/03/42

Slow BB TF bombarded Derby and more than 3200 men are disabled - Derby AF is closed and landings will start tomorrow, but not before fast BBs softens defence.

Ground combat at Perth

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 137352 troops, 1059 guns, 295 vehicles

Defending force 27741 troops, 134 guns, 50 vehicles

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1


Japanese ground losses:
1395 casualties reported
Guns lost 28
Vehicles lost 4

Allied ground losses:
1189 casualties reported
Guns lost 26
Vehicles lost 11

Another good result at Perth. Units with less disruption are on shock attack, while others are on deliberate attack for tomorrow. Kates did their job and disrupted part of Australian division.

I've ordered Kates from Akagi and Kaga to attack enemy LCUs tomorrow too, and lets hope that Perth would be finished tomorrow.

PACIFIC

Not a much action today - LBA didnt fly from Maloelap. I've ordered B KB to move towards Tarawa (on 4 hex distance) but not before afternoon phase. Lets hope LBA with strong escort would clear path for my TBs in the afternoon phase...

[Sneer]

you have 2 inf divs and certainly by this moment you could gather 500 AP from large naval units of 4th fleet
so sth about 1.5k AP is possible to achieve

BTW I recently converted 2 chinase divisions to SA
there is moment you get 4 divisions almost at once
3 to china and 1 to kwantung
Almost certainly 1 or 2 and even 3 of them will be short on troops as your pool at that moment is dry - halt their replacement and buy them out when they are at 25% strenght for 25% cost [:D][:D][:D][:D]
this way I will have in 2 months 2 divisions ready to garrison duty for sth like 1.8k PP and 2 crack divisions were moved to reserve
that's my best trick

[hawker]

Sneer is right,two divisions with SNLF and nav.guard units will be enough to destroy his units on Tarawa. Gather this forces quickly and invade Tarawa,he is in your backyard-CRUSH HIM.
One more thought,
i think its a mistake to use kates from KB to bombard ground units,save this elite pilots for more precious targets later in war. These pilots is UNREPLACEABLE.