The defenders of Clark Field have beaten back another assault at 2k to 1.5k losses.
In one of the most desperately heartwarming episodes of the war so far, the cut-off Khota Bharu infantry has finally emerged from the jungle covered hills and retook Kuala Lumpur. I think I’ll march them north as far as they will go from there.
QUESTION: Is there any way to offload this stuff in Australia without having it be dispersed over all the useless bases on the continent? My intention is to offload it in Brisbane and have it transported overland to Darwin. Is this possible?
At last, a scrap of good news for the Allies. Maybe Singapore will hold out a bit longer.
From my understanding, supplies tend to stream outwards from bases that have more, to bases that have less. Some of the supplies will reach Darwin, but more will stay in Brisbane or go elsewhere.
Civil war? What does that mean? Is there any foreign war? Isn't every war fought between men, between brothers?
Onime, I know it is slow, but I sent Many small TFs from Karachi to Austrailia. By scattering them I think I lowered their detection levels. I don't know where Faber's subs are but I started feeding them towards Darwin from Perth in small groups. It is just a thought.
Actually, I think it would be safer to push from the WC, take the southerly path through the Society Islands maybe. Besides that, WC has a deeper reserve of supplies and shipping. Another thing I'm going to try will be to station some heavy ASW forces at Pago to receive the OZ-bound TFs and then turn them south.
"Mighty is the Thread! Great are its works and insane are its inhabitants!" -Brother Mynok
ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock
At last, a scrap of good news for the Allies. Maybe Singapore will hold out a bit longer.
From my understanding, supplies tend to stream outwards from bases that have more, to bases that have less. Some of the supplies will reach Darwin, but more will stay in Brisbane or go elsewhere.
I doubt about Singapore. He's been bombing the crud out of it, its not encouraging.
As for supplies, I'm hoping that if I unload the majority of supplies in one place and then take a small chunk and run it up to Darwin, the supplies will have a better chance of staying put.
"Mighty is the Thread! Great are its works and insane are its inhabitants!" -Brother Mynok
The DEI is going to the dogs...or the penguins as it were. A large bombardment TF paid Singkawang a visit last night. Luckily, I had pulled the majority of the aircraft out the turn before. The only planes left were a couple of broken ones that are looking to stay broken.
Singapore got plastered by air today, lots of ground losses. In return, by flak claimed 10 of his aircraft outright and probaby another 2 dozen damaged to various degrees. I wonder is there is any chance of him having to take a break in the air campaign if he keep losing a/c t this rate.
Aside from that, the Blens and Hudsons flew their first strike against Mandalay from Indian bases today. The B-17s havent gotten up the khutzpah to fly yet, it seems. [8|]
My Chinese aircraft bombed Fabers armored column. The damage was unimpressive. In their defense, I do have them flying at 15k and theyre very green. On the other hand, I dount that I'll gain anything other than more damaged aircraft even if I dropped them down to 5k.
All those transport TFs are now on their way.
Oh, a question I forgot to post last night. Any reason why the Yorkie arrives with an understrength airgroup? [&:]
"Mighty is the Thread! Great are its works and insane are its inhabitants!" -Brother Mynok
6. "Push" of supply from a well supplied base to outlying bases now limited to need (human players only).
The previous code will push supply from a central base to outlying bases and units based on two factors:
a. Need - bases and units that are short on supply will receive supplies up to need (based on requested
supply less amount already on hand)
b. Extra - additional supply will be dispersed to bases (but not units) if the sending base is "rich" in supply.
This push of extra supply results in difficulty in accumulating supplies at main bases. An example of this is
supplies at Port Moresby being pushed to Buna when Port Moresby needs them and Buna does not. This
enhancement will remove the "b. Extra" supply movement.
Note: This enhancement is implemented for human players only. A side under computer control will use
the original code.
So only a minimal amount of supplies will move overland (only if a base or a LCU is lacking supplies). The only way to draw surplus supplies is to use a Command HQ, which attempts to draw 25.000 extra supplies to its base.
ORIGINAL: Onime No Kyo
Oh, a question I forgot to post last night. Any reason why the Yorkie arrives with an understrength airgroup? [&:]
Yes: reality. [;)]
If the understrength airgroup is a fighter squadron, VSWG is correct. The USN carriers historically could not carry thirty or more fighters until they converted to the F4F-4 version of the Wildcat, which had folding wings.
Civil war? What does that mean? Is there any foreign war? Isn't every war fought between men, between brothers?
Singapore got plastered by air today, lots of ground losses. In return, by flak claimed 10 of his aircraft outright and probaby another 2 dozen damaged to various degrees. I wonder is there is any chance of him having to take a break in the air campaign if he keep losing a/c t this rate.
He should... depends on where he will need plains now... unknown are the paths of the Penguin...
ORIGINAL: Onime No Kyo
Oh, a question I forgot to post last night. Any reason why the Yorkie arrives with an understrength airgroup? [&:]
Yes: reality. [;)]
If the understrength airgroup is a fighter squadron, VSWG is correct. The USN carriers historically could not carry thirty or more fighters until they converted to the F4F-4 version of the Wildcat, which had folding wings.
Ah! Now THAT makes sense. And I was about to ask if she took any losses fighting her way through the Panama Canal.
"Mighty is the Thread! Great are its works and insane are its inhabitants!" -Brother Mynok
Faber is back after going away for the weekend, so the war is back on.
1/21/42
No major occurrences combat-wise but things are happening backstage.
A BTF with Nagato and 2 CAs paid Singkawang another visit. The base has been evacuated of aircraft, so there isn’t much to lose.
O24 caught an AP with a torp coming out of Batavia, causing "heavy damage". I now have all my "working" subs, ie the Dutch, Brit and S-boats on patrol, while the dud wagons are mostly engaged in evacuation ops. I also have several of the dud transports up around Japan, largely for recce and annoyance purposes.
Singapore keeps being pounded by air but no major attacks since the Japanese crossed the causeway.
On the other hand, my 2 Khota Bharu cut-offs have already captured Kuala and the one north of it (memory fails me). They have managed to set themselves up with some captured Jap supplies and are on their way to Alor. I have vague dreams of marching them to Bangkok, but I would be surprised if Faber allowed that to occur. The thought of trying to use them to cut the supply route for Faber’s Singapore force glimmered briefly but was banished. He would not need much to beat the daylights out of those two units. But as long as they don’t face anything major, I think I can use them to cause some havoc.
Incidentally, I can understand why Faber was so upset about his units in Burma taking the scenic route. I got some intel that the Guards Division is still stuck in the jungle.
Faber has based some Oscars in Mandalay. Yesterday those had a sharp clash with my 40B bomber escorts. The score was 1:1 with a few bombers damaged. The trouble is, I was planning to convert that unit (3rd FS?) to Mohawks so I could free up the 40B supply for the AVG.
It was a good day at Clark Field. A major attack was beaten back with gusto. Faber lost darn near 4000 people for less that 1000 of mine. I like those odds, wish they would persist.
Faber took Lunga with one of those piddling NLFs. Like I said, I’m not wasting one man for those silly islands.
Now, behind the scenes. Those massive supply and fuel convoys are making good time towards OZ. A major supply convoy has arrived in Noumea (70K) and the 14th (?) NZ Bde. will be arriving shortly. This will be the 2nd MarDiv’s destination as well.
The 1st Australian Bde. has begun disembarking at PM. A convoy carrying about 20K of supply will begin unloading tomorrow.
One CD unit is about half unloaded at Midway, the RCT and another CD unit are about 3-4 days out and yet another CD unit is about 2 days behind that. Also alerted for movement to Midway are another BF (which I will lift from one of the islands in the periphery of Hawaii), and the USMC F4F squadron from Pearl.
Of the air units I had unloaded in Brisbane, the half-strength FG armed with P-40Bs is being transferred piecemeal to PM. So far about 20 aircraft have arrived, but that’s already better than all the Throwaways in Oz. Also, 14 SBDs are on the way to PM with a stop-over in Cairns. Their squadron mates will catch up. The BG of Bolos I had there is about half reassembled, but I have decided to convert them to Bostons. They are certainly better aircraft, not to mention that the reinforcement rate is much better.
The Indomitable will arrive tomorrow for an extended stay in-harbor. The Mississippi will also be coming in.
OT: References to Mississippi always remind me of a silly old joke….
Two Italian guys, fresh off the boat are sitting on a bus having a conversation. One guy exclaims to his friend…
"First, Emma cum, then I cum, then Essa, she cum two times, then I cum again…."
A fidgety old lady in the seat in front of them turns around and starts shaming him…
"How dare you talk about such things in public?!"
The Italian responds…
"Looka lady, I dunno whassa got you so upset, but Ima just tell my friend how to spella Mississippi".
"Mighty is the Thread! Great are its works and insane are its inhabitants!" -Brother Mynok
One CD unit is about half unloaded at Midway, the RCT and another CD unit are about 3-4 days out and yet another CD unit is about 2 days behind that. Also alerted for movement to Midway are another BF (which I will lift from one of the islands in the periphery of Hawaii), and the USMC F4F squadron from Pearl.
4 CD units for Midway?! Are you sure he's going to attack here?
So far not bad... PM is being prepared in a good way, Dutch and Brit subs are taking some prey... wonder how long Khota remnants will last....
Btw.
Joke s@cks
Khota guys? Depends on what Faber is planning for them. I, for my part, plan to avoid any serious action for as long as possible. As for the joke, it always brought the house down in 7th grade (told you it was old). [:)]
"Mighty is the Thread! Great are its works and insane are its inhabitants!" -Brother Mynok
One CD unit is about half unloaded at Midway, the RCT and another CD unit are about 3-4 days out and yet another CD unit is about 2 days behind that. Also alerted for movement to Midway are another BF (which I will lift from one of the islands in the periphery of Hawaii), and the USMC F4F squadron from Pearl.
4 CD units for Midway?! Are you sure he's going to attack here?
Heck no! But with the LCU HQ house rule in effect I dont have the PP to spare on them ATM and Midway is a better location for them than Frisco. When push comes to shove I'll move them. Actually, a part of me wishes that Faber would go for those CentPac and Sopac islands. It may cause me some problems in the short run, but come a few months, I'll nail him with numbers and frittering his resources away will be worse for him.
"Mighty is the Thread! Great are its works and insane are its inhabitants!" -Brother Mynok
Seems that no one has either an interestest or an answer to my question. [8|]
1/22/42
An overall quiet day. The usual air activity over Singapore, Clark, Lautem and Mandalay. At Lautem, the 5TH BG's strikes are down to 25 planes. This at 48 operationals and 80-something morale. I think the CO will be packing his bags for Nome if the situation does not improve in short order. Over Mandalay, my bombers are still bveing met by Oscars. However, while my lighter-skinned British bombers are taking damage, the Oscars are also suffering from the 17s. I think that in the long-run this works to my advantage. Faber's pilot XP can only go down from here, while mine will increase. While I am not losing too many planes operationally, I dont know if he can say the same. Finally, I encourage any exposure of my units to enemy fire. I have a long way to go to matching Faber's flyboys in skill. Also, my Chinese bombers are taking little nibbles out of Faber's column. My optimal result would be to fatigue and disrupt them to such an extent on the march that they will need time to regroup before attacking.
No major combat at the big contact points, just artillery duels all around. There were a few notable episodes otherwise, however. Firstly, I have recaptured Alor Setar. This is only one hex away from a manned Japanese airfield. I'm not at all sure what its being defended by, but preliminary recon shows 3 units. I have doubts that one of these would be either a division or a brigade of infantry. I dont think Faber kept suck forces so far back and I doubt that he was able to rush one in so quickly. Any bets on whether 2 understrength infantry brigades can take 2 BFs and an air HQ? However, these heroic units now have bigger problems. There is a unit fast approaching them from the south. I beleive this to be at least a brigade. This unit was originally in Malacca but has since moved North. I think that Faber was expecting me to move on Singapore and prudently set up a road block. Now, I'm going to be caught between a rock and a hard place. If I cant move those base forces, those units are done.
Another heartwarming episode involved the immobile CD unit in Tilitjap, which today beat off an assault by Faber's vaunted paras.
The Bolo BG has been converted to Bostons. More time to uncrate the planes, but at least I'm going to have a bomb group with some decent hardware when they go into action. The P-40s and SBDs are now completely out of Brisbane, although the SBDs are still cooling their heels in Cairns. The Buffalo unit in Noumea is converting to F4Fs.
Another development is the unit that has set out on the track from Mandalay to Mytkina. The units retreating from Mandalay should be safely out of its reach and I doubt that faber will take them any farther north than Mytkina. Marching a single division up a jungle trail into the face of echeloned difences does not sound like the wily Penguin. However, I cannot exclude the possibility that he will do just that. To defend against this I will be moving one of the understrength divisions into Jarhat, with my main defenses lying in Dimapur. I also have several Chinese units on their way to Mytkina, but that will take a lot of time.
I expect Faber to content himself with occupying Mytkina. However, there is not much I can do at this point to prevent that. The requirements of protecting the entire coast is tying up my already strained resources. As I said before, the 18th UK is now marching to Asansol and thence to Dimapur where it will constitute the main defensive unit and construct fortifications. I do not now have the forces to counterattack Mytkina. Even with the arrival of the 2nd UK, I am disinclined to undertake any sort of offensive. Marching down a jungle track in the face of air power is as silly for me as it is for Faber.
My overall difensive plans for India are as follows. Two of the brigades currently moving from Mandalay will be going to Ceylon for good tea and garrison duty. A strong task force of armor, artillery and the 18th UK will be kept in the Dimapur, Asansol, Dacca area to back up the local units and construct defenses in case Faber undertakes a serious offensive. Any combat units that will arrive from now on will be relocated along the thusfar unprotected coast. Ideally, I would like to garrison Yanam and Hyderabad (was it?) and increase the garrison of Bombay. Also, I have pulled out the cadres of several of the Singapore units, namely the Australians, the Burmese brigades and an Indian brigade (although with the strain on the Indian squads, I dont expect this to rebuild terribly fast), as well as several BFs. Although these will take months to rebuild, I expect to have these guys to be able to provide me with at least a few dozen AV if needed.
I should note that I consider "pulling cadres" to be a gamey tactic, however, since the game does not allow me to dispose of resources, such as reinforcement suads, to create new formations, I am forced to resort to such gameyness.
"Mighty is the Thread! Great are its works and insane are its inhabitants!" -Brother Mynok
No major combat at the big contact points, just artillery duels all around. There were a few notable episodes otherwise, however. Firstly, I have recaptured Alor Setar. This is only one hex away from a manned Japanese airfield. I'm not at all sure what its being defended by, but preliminary recon shows 3 units. I have doubts that one of these would be either a division or a brigade of infantry. I dont think Faber kept suck forces so far back and I doubt that he was able to rush one in so quickly. Any bets on whether 2 understrength infantry brigades can take 2 BFs and an air HQ? However, these heroic units now have bigger problems. There is a unit fast approaching them from the south. I beleive this to be at least a brigade. This unit was originally in Malacca but has since moved North. I think that Faber was expecting me to move on Singapore and prudently set up a road block. Now, I'm going to be caught between a rock and a hard place. If I cant move those base forces, those units are done.
Can you fly some recon? Or ground attack missions? Are guns reported at this base? Anyway, I say go for it - and maybe send some transports to evacuate the surviving elements.
If you're really gutsy, you can send some troops from India to northern Malaya - some tanks would be ideal. This would delay the fall of Singapore considerably. I tried something like this in my PBEM, but I did it too early, and with not enough troops. I still had an intact air force in Malaya at that time though (Singapore wasn't closed), and that would be a prerequesite for such an invasion, methinks.
