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BURMA part II

Still at Rangoon, on 20th dec, allied bombers try to hit a spotted japanese DD. 80 japs fighters provide cover to the ship.
28 Lightnings are escorting my 13 bombers. 27 japs fighters are downed for 14 P-38; 1st Lt Jenkins is the hero of the day, scoring 3 kills (reaching 8).
But if the air fight goes my way, the DD escape unharmed, as usual [:@].
If i am only able to sink MSW, this game has no hope !







VICTORIA POINT
In the night of 22th dec, SS S-38 get along the shore, and sink a MSW; it then escape the Nells and Betty patrols all day, escape the patrol boats, and sink another MSW at the end of the afternoon. And then sail back, out of ammunition, toward it's port.
Am i purposed to sink only small games ?


LUANG PRABANG
This base, remote and isolated in the jungle of Indochina, raised it's airfield level to 2 on 12th december. Raids had been decided, but none took off before 15th. Few sorties are made by Blenheims (from Mandalay) or Iliouchine 4 from Yunan.
Raids of 15th, 16th, 17th have no particular results.
On 18th, a CAP of 2 Tojo fail to intercept my planes, but scare the crews.
On 19th and 20th, AVG/A flying from Yunan sweep the base, downing 4 Tojo in 2 days for no loss.
The raids resume, without much result, and on 23th dec, Luang Prabang airfield raise to level 3.
What for ? Earning base victory points ? Base for deep bombing in India, Yunan, or else ???

16th - 23th DEC 1942

THE FIGHT ON IRRAWADDY

On ground, the japs trigger a shock attack by an incoming 4th division !! [X(].
This attack fail with 900 japs casualties for 200 allied.
The 7th Arm Bde and 3rd Carabiniers Reg try to counter attack on 22th dec, without success (320 japs for 420 allied).
The 64 B-25 at Akyab schedulded to assist the attack kept on ground (Weather [:@] ).


North of this , the 28 japs units retreating from Pagan should be harassed, but weather ground my planes.
This seem in fact very unusual to manage to fly mission in this theater !
On 23th dec, Buffalos on LRCAP intercept an Hickory flying a mission there. With the number of Auxiliaries planes in Moulmein (around 200) and the level of supply that i found in Pagan, i expect these troops to be fully supplied [:(][:@]. I hate this game wihc seem to allow the japs to fly any mission he wants to !

16th DEC - 23th DEC 1942

TIMOR

After the loss of the base wich costed me more than 3000 mens and a "futur springboard", i decided to try to slow down the repair of this place (the japs seize it in a moonscape state).
On19th dec, 15 Dutch Brewster manage to shoot 2 Zeros [X(], thus opening the path for 15 bombers, scoring only 1 Runway hit.
Another raid on 22th face more CAP and suffer more loss (8 Brewster for 2 Zeros). 38 B-17 manage to score 4 airbase hits and 34 on runway.
On 23th, another Bomber Group (5th BG) join the raid, and 50 B-17 get through 18 zeros (2 zeros destroyed for 2 Brewster, 8 Boing damagd), score 2 hits on airbase and 48 on runway. 27 others Flying Fortress get lost in the clouds, i can only imagine the amount of damages i could have done.
The same day, 20 light bombers attack the japs shipping at Koepang. 5 Brewster and 1 Hudson are downed by the japs CAP. 2 AP are hit, this is a very long time since my planes didn't hit a japanese ship. Do you think 3 bombs could sink an AP ? Not even !!
If i am doomed to be unable to sink something bigger than a coconut shell, i am going to turn crazy [:@][8|][:@]

16th dec - 23th dec 1942

SOPAC

Gili Gili and Efate are bombed on a quasi-daily basis. Efate is no more reconned because of bad weather, ennemy activity (see below) and maybe bad luck; same thing fo the bombing, only 2 days of bombing out of a week of 8 days because of weather ( [:@] ).

Near Gili Gili, 4 japs AG are sunk by my beauforts ( the A-20 Boston seem not willing to attack, even at 100 feet, maybe they consider this is not enough honorable for them; listen guys, ANITHING THAT SINK/DESTROY/ANIHILATE/DISINTIGRATE/BLOW/SET AFIRE/ VAPORISH JAP ASSETS IS ENOUGH HONORABLE !!! ).

Gasmata
On 19th dec, 30 allied bombers (Boston, Mitchells) bomb the base, scoring a small 1 runway hit.
So on 20th dec, the japs try to put a CAP of 11 Tony. But my bombers came with 21 P-38 escorting. 6 Tonys are downed fo 1 Lightning. Results on airfield are light;
On 22th, another raid see the first fight of the NIck. 2 zeros, 5 Nick and 4 Tonys are downed for 4 P-38 and 1 Boston.
7 hits are scored on runway.
And on 23th, a simple sweep of 17 P-38 down 2 of the japs fighters on CAP for 1 P-38.

SOPAC

Luganville

On 20th dec, AK Surigao is the first to know that KB is back. Sailing between Noumea and Luganville for a supply run, it is attacked by
36 carriers planes, and sink.

On 21th dec, KB raid Luganville.

50 zeros and 260 bombers face 45 allied fighters. I should have had 70 fighters, with 80 of the units on CAP, but for some reason, when the japs come, the random is not on my side.
Wether i am really doomed, or i lack luck, or i don't know, Jan is able to trickle the dice.....

So, the fight cost me 25 fighters, 10 bombers/patrol planes are destroyed on the ground, the base suffer 15 hits, the runway 53 !
19 zeros and 24 japs bombers are destroyed.
And the damages on base are quickly repaired, because the KB slowly sail East after this (still in range of spotting, not in range of naval attack from Noumea. Anyway, when in range of Noumea, the KB is NEVER attacked. Of course, my fighters are too short legged to provide escort (there are no P-38 on this front, the pool is depleting too quickly on the rest of the Pacific), but the 4E are supposed to fly without escort, and they don't fly [:@].

No less than 9 CV are supposed to be here: the datais attacking were:
AI- AII- BI- BII- CII- DII- DIII- EI - EII).

A tremendous power that could stamped on any convoy or surface TF; and on any allied CV TF.

CV are scattered: RN in their part of the world (from Iceland to Karachi, with maybe some in Mediterannéean or near Madagascar). US CV between Pearl, Australia and the repair yards of West Coast (Lexington finally decided to start repairing after 3 months of hollidays. Work had begun has soon as the Repair Yard Director was shot for Treason, and his wife sent in the Salt Mine of Kasselrine or whatever the name of this jail in Star Wars) .

SO, good news is : i know where KB is.
And i can destroy it in 1946 when i could gather a fleet of 12 CV and 12 CVE....if Jan don't destroy me peacemal before.

AAR will take some hollidays (but will keep on): my opponant and i managed to have hollidays quite at the same time [8D].
PBEM could resume around 10th of july, and maybe AAR around 14th of July ( "Allons enfants de la Patrie- i -euuuuh....." )

losing 35 allied planes to 45 (high xp cv capable) planes sounds like a sweet exchange to me, especially if you can repair the airfield quickly.
Training those pilots to the 80's will take your opponent a lifetime (at least thats what it'll look like to him at about half way trough the war).

as for getting withouth an air HQ you can't account for 100% of your air unit to fly (it can happen, but dont count on it)

have a nice holiday!!

I've only just noticed you still hold PM in late 42!
THAT changes a lot.
No nasty counter invasions for you -you will soon gain complete air control in PNG
Holding Port Moresby is a very well done!

24th DEC - 31th DEC

CENTPAC

24th dec, SS S-35 patroling at Johnston Island is hit by an ASW TF of 3 patrol boats, and on fire, manage to reach Pearl on 30th dec just before sinking.
This place were my subs managed to shoot a small craft from time to time has no more success. FRUSTRATION [:@]

SOPAC

at Funafuti , on 24th and 25th dec, SS Whale can't manage to shoot a jap MSW. My subs are useless. FRUSTRATION

After weeks of waiting for my B-24 Group of Pago Pago to bomb the airfield, in order to slow it's growth, i decided to aim the port: after all, Funafuti airfield is level 0, so maybe that's why it can't be attacked (and if this, this is STUPID).
On 25th dec, 35 Liberators attack the base. They face 4 Rufe. 1 plane is lost for each side. 5 hits are scored on supply but nothing against the base. Another raid on 29th dec give no results [:@].

Gasmata
on 26th, 24th FG/B was schedulded for a sweep. 21 of the Lightning lost their path in the clouds, and only 3 planes dive on the jap base. They encounter 15 zeros and 10 Tonys, and manage to shoot down 2 japs planes before escaping without losses.
Another sweep on 27th dec, with 21 Lightning, encounter 19 zeros and 7 Tonys. 2 P-38 are downed for 5 japs fighters.

Port Moresby
On 28th dec, 2 australians MSW find and clear mines laid by japs subs.
FRUSTRATION : the japs spot and attack my subs with patrol planes fearly easily, each day, but my own patrol planes hardly see japs subs. Don't come and talk about experience level of the squadrons, they are all in the high 70's ! [:@].

On 29th dec, a jap TF , probably aiming my convoys of AK unloading at Port Moresby, is attackd by a bunch of Boston-Beaufort-Mitchell, but set at 100 feet to attack the barges resupplying Gili Gili. 80 sorties achieve a few 50cal hits on 2 DD suffering no visible damages, and 1 bomb hit.
This jap TF raid Port Moresby harbor in the night of the 30th, surprising one of my convoy. SURPRISING ? Guys, i knew this TF was coming ! One AK and 1 allied DD are unk, for no shots replied to the raiders !! WTF ???? [:@].
Then this raider TF escape unharmed and UNSPOTTED during daylight !
On 31th, it cross the straight near Gili Gili, where SS Greenling try a shot at a DD but score a dud.
I CAN'T ADMIT THE FAILURE AND FLAWNESS OF THIS GAME !! If a raider TF is always allowed to escape spotting and retaliation strike (i mean, this TF is at striking range !), there is no hope for any effort ! [:@].

KOEPANG

24th dec, raid against the airfield, always in order to slow the repair, so the jap could not use quickly the base.
4 Hudson and 71 B-17 face 17 zeros. 1 Flying Fortress is shoot down, 8 others damaged (3 op losses). The airbase suffer 2 hits and the runway 17 hits.

25th, having spott japs shipping anchored at Koepang, i change target and set my bombers to Port attack.
5 Brewster escot 13 Hudson and 57 B-17; they face 17 zeros and 2 Nick. 1 Brewster is shot, one AP suffer 7 bombs hits and sink in port: what a waste of effort for 1 ship ! FRUSTRATION

27th dec, 3 Brewster, 4 Hudson and 15 Flying Fortress (out of 90 that were schedulded) attack japs shipping near Koepang.
20 zeros and 9 Nick CAP the place. 1 Brewster is lost, for 3 zeros (shot by B-17 gunners). One jap AP is hit by one bomb, the 3 others are unharmed, and the hit ship don't sink.

2 more raids on 30th and 31th aim the airfield (as these few days of targetting the shipping allowed repairs at the base). But 168 sorties only score 100 runway hits, nothing on the base, and cost 5 Brewster, 15 Hudson and 7 B-17 for no japs losses.

JOLO AND ILOILO are bombed daily by the japs, causing casualties, and without any kind of opposition of course (no flack firing !)

24th DEC - 31 th DEC

CHINA

Kweiyang

South of Kweiyang, on 24th dec, AVG/A with 8 P-38 ambush a jap raid, and down 7 Oscars and 11 bombers for no losses



On 29th dec, AVG/A once more try to ambush the japs bombers. 11 P-38 fight 18 Tojo escorting 9 Nate making straffing.
4 Tojo are downed ( 3 of them by 1LT Ellard, reaching 7 kills) for 1 P-38.

but on ground, things are not that good.

West of Kweiyang, the 2 japs Div launch a deliberate attack in order to cut the town from a retreat path. This attack fail (odd 1/1) with 400 japs casualties for 140 chinese.
The japs bombardement on the city itself cause 1200 casualties in the week.
And on 30th dec, at first assaut, the town fall !!!
at 8/1 odd, 63500 mens surrenders, 47 vehicules of 754 US Tk Bn are destroyed.
Half the units in the town were trying to escape, but this game only allow a STUPID 1 mile walk per day, and so it was not enough to run away from the japs. FRUSTRATION [:@]; 350 japs VP.

ICHANG
On 26th dec, japs air raids on Ichang start. 605th sq (Spit Vb) loose 5 of it's 6 planes in 2 days, downing only 2 japs fighters, although some weeks ago this squadron was a Tony killer ! The squadron abandon Ichang to it's dark fate.

On 27th dec, north of the town, 4 chinese corp, gathering the strengh of barely one ( 250 AV only) manage to repulse the jap 13th Tank Regiment, cleaning the path toward Ichang. But it is still 60 miles away, and my units only walk 10 miles per day on a good road. FRUSTRATION [:@];
On 28th dec, north of the town 82th chinese corps, after weeks of blow, unable to defend, surrender.

On 29th dec, the japs launch the first deliberate attack on Ichang, reducing forts to level 8. And the attack keep on on the last days of the year.

HOMAN
On 26th dec, 4 japs Tanks regiment try to isolate and surround Homan, repulsing one chinese corps that was on garrison duty on the railroad leading to Sian.
Chinese reinforcement were schedulded but arrived to late to save this lone corps. At least, on 28th dec, 3 chinese corps manage to repulse the japs tanks; but it costed 950 chinese casualties for 260 japs and 11 vehicules (out of 600 vehicules).

CHUNGKING
On 29th dec, for the first time, the japs land bombardement cause some casualties in the chinese ranks (11 casualties). The week allowed me to cause 960 japs casualties by artillery fire.

capture of Kweiyang. All the allied units you can see will surrender in a few second after this screenshot [:@][:(]

Conquest of China so far

BURMA

IRRAWADDY

On 24th dec, two raid gathering 51 B-25, 6 wellington and 32 B-24? without escort [:@][:(] face 18 japs fighters and loose 8 planes, causing 120 casualties on ground.
On 25th, another raid of 48 B-24, always without escort [:@], loose 7 planes (shooting 2 Tonys) for 44 japs casualties on ground.
On 28th dec, 7th Arm Bde and 3d Carabiniers reg, trying to shaken the japs, launch a deliberate attack, wich result on odd 0/1 and 615 japs casualties for 190 allies.

Luang Prabang is raided on 24th and 25th dec, 35 sorties causing 11 runway hits and 1 airbase hits, but repaired as soon as done.

AKYAB

24th dec, SS RO-61 sneak in Akyab Bay and send 2 torpedoes in AK Engano.

26th dec, at night, at TF of 5 japs DD clean the minefield that i laid to protect the port !!!
This TF is attacked twice in the folowwing days, covered by 18 A6M3a. Only 9 sorties of Beaufort are flown out of 120 planes that could have flown 240 sorties [:@] FRUSTRATION .
18 zeros are downed for 4 allied fighters. DD Yakaze is hit by a torpedo, but no sign of sinking in the next 7 days [:@];
A tiny teancan can sustain a torpedo hit without sinking ? How would you think i could win a game with such bullshits ! [:@].
What will be needed for a BB ? 2 nuclear missiles and a death-ray ???

My transport TF that withdrawn to avoid the japs TF are back at Akyab on 27th dec (this place need a huge stockpile of supply).
The japs TF is back also !! it sink one AK. SS RO-61, still lurking there, add to the damages, sinking another AK. And still no patrol planes to hit it [:@].
During the day, NO allied planes attack the jap TF; weather ??? ALWAYS ALWAYS ON JAP SIDE ?? !! 240 sorties could have been flown. This is exactly the same thing as in New Guinea.

On 28th dec, part of my supply TF is still docked at Akyab.
A raid of 52 Zeros and 37 bettys face 40 allied planes. 20 zeros are downed, but guess what ??? The bombers get through [:@].
1 AK is torpedoed and sink.
The same day, the japs TF of DD is attacked twice near Rangoon. There is NO japanese CAP on it.
122 sorties only score 11 bombs hits ( 9% ????) ; once more i compare this to my opponant result wich is usually around 25 or 30% hit rate. Once more, don't come and talk me about the experience of his units and mine; my bombers are in the high 70's.
FRUSTRATION [:@].
So, DD Nokaze suffer 10 bombs hits and sink. DD Shiokaze suffer one bomb hit, and as too many japs ships, don't sink.

29th dec, another jap air raid on Akyab gather 40 zeros and 16 Bettys, fighting with my CAP of 19 fighters. 13 zeros are downed for 1 P-38; who guessed the Bettys get through ??? 1 AK suffer 2 torpedoes hit and sink, another suffer a torpedo hit, don't sink but all the cargo is lost.

And on 31th dec, 8 japs DD raid Akyab in the night., sinking 7 new AK before they unload the precious supply, avoid my minefield, avoid once more the 3 subs on their path, and avoid a retaliation raid in the next day [:@][:@][:@].
FRUSTRATION;
Just one more trick like that and i give up the game.

Another place wich cost too much to resupply is ANDAMAN

Trying to scatter the japs effort, i sent 2 AK TF toward Andaman, at the same time that i sent TF toward Akyab.
But the jap is strong enough to react at both place at the same time [:(][:@].

On 26th dec, 80 zeros and 45 Bettys tangle with my 36 allied fighters. 20 zeros are downed and 1 betty. YES, the bombers get through, surprising isn't it [:@]. 18 allied planes are shot.
2 AK and a MSW are hit by 7 torpedoes ( see: 25% hit rate).
In the night of the 27th, a jap TF of 2 DD enter the port. DD Kuri hit 2 mines and sink outright. But DD Tsuga avoid SS KVII attack ( Useless sub i tell you [:@] ), and sink 1 AK and the lone PT Boat on duty here (and one more useless weapon [:@] ).
In the morning of the 27th, 3 Blenheims of Andaman attack DD Tsuga......and score no hits but i wonder why i could precise the result. ( there are 12 Blenheims in Andaman....only 1/4 are flying, so why the efforts ???? I should evacuate this useless place).

Then in the morning of the 27 th came the jap air raid. 60 zeros and 16 bettys face 11 allied fighters. 6 zeros and 1 bettys are downed for 5 allied fighters ( the AVG/C does not have any more the result it used to [:@] ).
One AK is sinked by 2 torpedos. 2 others raids gathering 32 Sallys sink 2 others AK ( but loosing 7 planes).
There is only one AK left; less than 3000 supply out of 35000 had been delivered !!!






GLOBAL BURMA

What i had feared is now come true : i have lost too many freighters in Bengal Bay. Each supplying run is loosing many AK and delivering not enough supplies.
Protection AK with PT Boat (as Rtrapasso suggested) is impossible: only the US base can create PT Boats.
Protecting AK with warships will only end in loosing warships and AK as the bombers ALWAYS get through.

So : i can't anymore upgrade Andaman (Forts and Ports), i can't sustain Offensive capabilitys for Akyab, and i can't even dream of landing anything bigger than a platoon anywhere in Bengal Bay.
No less than 16 AK has been lost in this week. The japs has lost 2 DD , but far too often, my planes don't attack these ships.
Why ? Weather [:@] ? Coordination [:@] ? Bad luck, always and always and always ? [:@]
What could be my mistakes ? Planes are set on naval attack, with Air HQ in range, with high aggresivness leaders, with good level airfield, with escorts set to the same range and altitude, so what am i doing wrong ? Nothing it seem, so i am doomed ??? [:@][:(];

And when the japs ships are hit, each of them is build in Adamantine with Mithril and Kriptonite. They can easily reach a port, clear the flooding, go to a repair yard and come back in a few weeks. My AK are not that strong and sink pretty easily.

Just one more bullshit and i give up

thats an awfull lot of red smileys in your last couple of posts..


on the weather topic;
when theres a bad weather prediction i usually dont count on my planes to attack anything, i do keep about 50 on nav search (less when there are thunderstorms!), but the rest is allowed to recover some strength during bad weather. seeing that you are playing around new year, i think its pretty normal for you to have about 50% bad weather.

use the weather to rest (this boosts your efforts when they do actually fly), and dont set up naval missions that depend on air support if you cant be sure it will be there.

and if you are working with the weather, you might even try a sneak attack somewhere under cover of the weather, just to repay the favout

ORIGINAL: flaggelant

thats an awfull lot of red smileys in your last couple of posts..

Yes, and i assume it [:@]

Here is a global map of the front lines at 31th dec 42

Gladiatt:

You have already turned the corner, but you don't see it yet... your frustration with the game mechanics are warranted in that the game does NOT play like history: i.e. - you can not use the same tactics as were used in WW2 and expect to get the same results. Case in point is that DDs (and AKs) will routinely survive a single torpedo hit. Japanese land bombers will routinely find and hit (and often sink) USN subs (i don't recall a single instance of a USN sub being sunk by IJ LAND air during the actual war, but maybe there was an instance... it was a rare event compared to what happens in WITP vanilla).


However: a couple of things to realize...
1. Your P-38's which were originally performing pretty badly are now starting to attrit the enemy. IIRC you are getting CORSAIRS starting in January 1943 (i am not sure when stock provides them, but i start to get them about then in my game around then, so you should be getting them soon. Corsairs are absolute murder on the IJ aircraft in the game (well, until later in the game when the Shinden appears).

2. Jan 1, 1943, which you have apparently just reached - your torpedo dud rates drop dramatically... they are not perfect, but they will perform MUCH better.

3. Your patrol planes will perform badly against subs, probably because you are using PBYs mostly... they are useless against subs in WITP because they use torpedoes... only bombs can hit subs in this game. If you can, switch to Coronados and Mariners ASAP... they perform MUCH better on patrol functions. Hudsons are also good, but their bombs are smaller.

4. China is a basket case for the Allies in WITP vanilla (esp. if the Burma Road supply line is cut) ... limit your losses the best you can and attempt to fall back on Chungking without getting cut off... you seem to be doing better here than many players, i think. IIRC the Burma road is now open, so supplies should be flowing (slowly) to the Chinese, which is excellent. As your Chinese troops begin to reappear in Chungking, things should start to stabilize assuming you can keep the supply lines open.

Hey Bob.
Thanks for advice.
I think that what partly frustrate me is of course the fact that the game don't look like the "real" WWII;
Also it seem that things are not acting as 6 months before: i remenber sinking jap CL (near Noumea for example) with a single torpedo hit, for example.
Anyway, i am now waiting for my Killers F4U Corsair are soon , they start in February, so now in 27 days ( i am currently played 3 january).

Two operations are in the tubes; they are of course on Beattlemania kind:

- Ticket to Ride. This operation is really risky, and will ask a good coordination. It won't happen before arriving of Corsair.

- Something. This operation will start when i will feel secure and that i will have enough assets (base, engineers, troops, squadrons, and so on), so probably in 6 months. Named Something because i need to do something.

- Get Back is not really a great operation. It involve a lone AK that is currently sailing around the world, and had avoided KB last month, and is now trying to sail back all that it had sailed in the wrong way wile evading KB.

Also it seem that things are not acting as 6 months before: i remenber sinking jap CL (near Noumea for example) with a single torpedo hit, for example.

Yeah, it can happen... i've seen a BB sink with a single mine hit*, but this is pretty unusual.

(*in another AAR - Pompack vs. Amiral Laurent).