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ORIGINAL: crsutton


I guess it really does not matter when the change came about. The point is that it is now viable and we have both seen it work. It would be a good counter against a Japanese player who sends all his assets to take far off places early in the game. Without oil it matter little how far they advance-unless they pull off an AV.

Each point of Oil damaged is 1000 less supply plus 10 per day for every day it remains unrepaired. It's what makes Palembang such a nailbiter - if it gets wrecked, it's literally a million potential supply down the drain.

Joc can threaten that come summer when he has Hellcats and Corsairs... the combined weight of the USN OOB plus the British Empire might be enough to maintain a campaign on that side of the map.

[font="Verdana"]23rd January 1943[/font]
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Messed up the screens from the replay and I can´t be bothered to run it again. I´ll think you´ll survive though. [:)]

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West Coast
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Big bombardment of SD. With a a mastodon TF.

Night Naval bombardment of San Diego at 227,78 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

43 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro, Shell hits 1
BB Fuso
BB Kirishima
BB Kongo
CA Kako
CA Kinugasa
CA Myoko
CA Chokai
CL Kiso
CL Tama
CL Kuma
CL Abukuma
CL Isuzu
CL Jintsu
CL Naka
CL Agano

Allied ground losses:
193 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 24 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Vehicles lost 11 (3 destroyed, 8 disabled)

Going to refresh the minefield and place some subs at SD. Not much else I can do for now. I have an idea though...

My sweeps hit empty air. I bet he has focused his CAP over Camp Pendleton. 160 fighters listed there last turn. Some of it on LRCAP over SD. P47 time tomorrow though...[:)]

The attack at LA shaved off another half division for Jeff. Luckily for the Allies our losses seem to spread evenly over all units. At least so far. Don´t have the turn yet so I don´t know how they look after this attack. Looking at the replay it seems the Japanese 1st division took the brunt of the attack and was down to 120 AV during the attack. Only the 16th division still looks in good shape.

My Omahas wasn´t caught this turn although 1 of the TFs was spotted. Probably the Detroit TF. Ammo is low but there is some. So we could possibly bite back a little. I hope the Burke TF can rendezvous next turn.

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India
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Not much to report here. The fleet reaches Colombo where we will need about 2 weeks to repair SYS. We won´t sit idle though. 2 Small TFs will depart Madras with BFs and supply. They will be covered by a cruiser force. I´m counting on the runways to be repaired by then.

The RAF is ready to jump in a provide CAP. The USAAF will stand down in India and provide CAP to save on pools. RAF pools are in excellent shape and they will be put to work in the months ahead.


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SOPAC
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Looking good here. Renell Island is invaded without opposition. Jeffs lack of expansion here in SOPAC really hurts his ability to hit back even from the air. Betties were flying all the way from Rabaul when we invaded Kirakira. Opposition is weak and we will get these bases almost for free using only small forces.

Ground combat at Kirakira (116,140)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1561 troops, 4 guns, 39 vehicles, Assault Value = 59

Defending force 2072 troops, 24 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 57

Allied adjusted assault: 11

Japanese adjusted defense: 13

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 0)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), preparation(-), fatigue(-)
experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
230 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 16 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Allied ground losses:
66 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Assaulting units:
NG Vol Rifles Battalion
1st AmphTrac Engineer Battalion

Defending units:
Guards Mixed Bde /1
9th Field Construction Battalion

Ground combat at Rennell Island (113,140)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 501 troops, 2 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 17

Defending force 1600 troops, 8 guns, 19 vehicles, Assault Value = 70

Assaulting units:
I/66th Naval Guard Unit
36th JNAF AF Unit
80th JAAF AF Bn

Defending units:
2nd USMC Parachute Bn /1
34th Cmbt Engr Rgt /1

This is great fun for me though. Never bothered with the Solomons before. First time for everything. [:)]

So Paperclip is in full swing now but will be put on back burner while Rennel and Kirakira is secured and built up. In the meantime Paper will kick off. Forces are almost in position and another 2 days or so everything will be at their start positions. I will probably be spotted very early and its quite dangerous. Losing 2 CVs to subs down here really hurts my ability to provide CAP over the invasion. Luckily I have 50 P38s here with their long range.

I will also be using AP/AKs in this OP to minimize time needed under enemy LBA. I normally keep them safe until APA/AKA conversion but this opportunity is too good to pass up. I expect some losses but I hope they will be manageable.

[font="Verdana"]Fighter pools[/font]
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As can be seen in the screen we are in excellent shape. I don´t remember ever having this much fighters to spare. Especially RAF pools are overflowing. I have intentionally not upgraded units with older Hurricane models yet to burn though the older models pools. PDU OFF...once you upgrade you can never go back.

[font="Verdana"]Bomber pools[/font]
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More depressing screen. But allied bomber pools are always a sad panda.

[font="Verdana"]Next turn.[/font]
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Got the turn yesterday and working on it right now. Tomorrow will see an all out attack over Camp Pendleton. 125 P47s and P38s will sweep. Corsairs and P40Ks are ready for Day 2. P39s and P40Es will do day 3. Hopefully we can break him and close the AF.

At LA my troops need a days rest. Bombardments using artillery only. Some troops are starting to look a beat up. Especially the 40th ID. Not too unhappy though. PP price is down to 1700 PPs... [;)] The 2nd Army tank BDE and the 91st US division will arrive in 3 days to replace the most worn out units.

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

[font="Verdana"]Fighter pools[/font]
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As can be seen in the screen we are in excellent shape. I don´t remember ever having this much fighters to spare. Especially RAF pools are overflowing. I have intentionally not upgraded units with older Hurricane models yet to burn though the older models pools. PDU OFF...once you upgrade you can never go back.

That is a very nice collection of reserve airplanes.

Hey guys.

Havn´t gotten the replay back. I´ll update as soon as I do.

[font="Verdana"]January 24th 1943[/font]
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Some sad news today as our brave Omahas are obliterated by the KB. Burke TF is also hit but with minimal damage. Burke TF is about 7 hexes from the KB. Might give it a go next turn...

Morning Air attack on TF, near Eureka at 209,72

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 34 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 10
B5N2 Kate x 22
D3A2 Val x 33
D4Y1 Judy x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 3 damaged
D3A2 Val: 1 damaged
D4Y1 Judy: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
CL Richmond, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Farragut
CL Raleigh, Bomb hits 8, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Phelps
DD Aylwin, Bomb hits 2, on fire
DD McCalla

There are lots more attacks during the turn. But basically the entire Omaha TF is gone with the exception of Strong and Phelps. Burke TF is ready for action though. Could be interesting next turn if Jeff gets greedy and lingers...

Notice the complete lack of fighter escort...there is a reason for this...

[font="Verdana"]Camp Pendleton[/font]
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Its not combat. Its just slaughter. Unless Jeff pulled the pilots from the KB air wings his pre war pilots are now gone. Several KB airgroups are identified among the defenders.

P38s start the day.

Morning Air attack on Camp Pendleton , at 226,77

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 13 NM, estimated altitude 33,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 54
F1M2 Pete x 1
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 22
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 34

Allied aircraft
P-38F Lightning x 24

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 3 destroyed
F1M2 Pete: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38F Lightning: 2 destroyed

This is followed by another P38 sweep and 3 P47 sweeps. Completely slaughter. This is the last sweep from the P47s.

Morning Air attack on Camp Pendleton , at 226,77

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 43 NM, estimated altitude 36,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 27
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 12
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 16

Allied aircraft
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 25

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 2 destroyed
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 3 destroyed
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 3 destroyed

No Allied losses

Estimated losses are around 50 Japanese fighters for 5-7 allies. Of those 2-3 P47s. Tomorrow its Corsair and P40K time.

[font="Verdana"]LA[/font]
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Jeff is in catastrophic danger here. As can be seen in the screen his divisions are seriously worn out. I know from personal experience that once things start to crumble it will take only 2-3 more attacks before things turn into a full rout. The allies on the other hand will soon have 2 fresh divisions + 150 Lees ready to attack.

Further indication of the peril in this bombardment done by allied artillery units alone. No divisional arty. No allied losses.

Ground combat at Los Angeles (225,76)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 2583 troops, 210 guns, 189 vehicles, Assault Value = 3300

Defending force 66584 troops, 961 guns, 893 vehicles, Assault Value = 1246

Japanese ground losses:
69 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

I think he has 2-3 attacks more before his troops will fold. But now he no longer controls the airspace so any evacuation will have to be done without air cover. KB can´t help either as the air wings are shot acting LBA. Not unlike the real KB pilots over the Solomons. I don´t envy his situation.

Looking at the screen the Allied armored divisions look a bit worn out. Their armor is almost completely intact though. Its the infantry that has taken the disablements. So the firepower is almost intact.

You get 50 Japanese planes lost from those combat reports? You, sir, are being excessively optimistic. Even with 3 reports from sweeps missing, the final CAP numbers tell me that losses were not that abhorrent. Perhaps more than I would like, were I playing Japan, but nowhere near 10:1.

Also, isn't Camp Pendleton his? Don't be too cocky about his prewar pilots being dead. I'd doubt that.

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

You get 50 Japanese planes lost from those combat reports? You, sir, are being excessively optimistic. Even with 3 reports from sweeps missing, the final CAP numbers tell me that losses were not that abhorrent. Perhaps more than I would like, were I playing Japan, but nowhere near 10:1.

Also, isn't Camp Pendleton his? Don't be too cocky about his prewar pilots being dead. I'd doubt that.

Last sweep in the PM phase hit 3 planes (a P38 sweep). I did´t include it as it was..well only 3 planes. Last time I swept with the P47s alone Japanese losses were 50+ planes. I think it will be somewhere around 50 planes lost this time around too.

Yes, Camp Pendleton is indeed Japanese. But the KB squadrons have been fighting over the WC for a long time now. Japan has lost almost 300 Zeroes during the last 2 week alone. I assume most of them are from the KB.

Don´t be so pessimistic...[;)]

There were 4 more sweeps, one P-38 and three P-47. and they flew against fatigued pilots. So I can understand Jocke's optimism about the total Japanese losses. Jocke also had the opportunity to watch the combat replay, and there may have been more carnage than the combat reports indicate.

I think if I were the Japanese player I would abandon the troops in the US. Infantry is not a scarce resource for Japan, but ships and planes are. By trying to save them he could easily turn a manageable disaster into a total and final and complete disaster.

ORIGINAL: crsutton

I think if I were the Japanese player I would abandon the troops in the US. Infantry is not a scarce resource for Japan, but ships and planes are. By trying to save them he could easily turn a manageable disaster into a total and final and complete disaster.

I think that would psychologically be a too big sacrifice for him to make. Although the troops at LA are pretty much shot anyway the divisions at SD are still in pristine condition. I would be very surprised if he abandoned them.

If I were Jeff I would do something at least. He has now been sitting on the WC for over a week doing absolutely nothing. He is not even bombarding at SD any longer. He is not accomplishing anything at all right now. Only thing happening on the WC right now is the Japanese army and air force are slowly but surely being ground into dust.

He has only 2 options. Either he makes a serious try at SD or pack up and go home. Or rather try to pack up and go home while he can. If he sacrifices the troops at LA he might be able to save the SD troops. But once the LA troops are forced the retreat he has only a couple of days before the Allied will be at Camp Pendleton. 4 days I believe. Not enough time to move out of SD and load up on ships.

To be honest he should have given up on this OP a long time ago. If I were him I would have bugged out the moment I realized SD wouldn´t be a quick grab. Or better yet. Not landed on the WC at all.

But kudos for Jeff for trying and staying on course. More guts then I have!

There will be no Dunkirk. The KB does not have the durability to protect Japanese merchant shipping for the multiple days it will take to load the troops. If you crack its hard exterior, you will lay waste to the entire IJN, and the exterior is already being worn down in fighter losses. The best the Japanese can do is spend one day loading whatever can get aboard and setting sail for PH, and they can't do that without withdrawing from L.A. and/or S.D. You should detect the withdrawal(s) so you should have several days notice to prepare for strikes against the ports and shipping.

This operation is already a disaster for the Japanese war effort. It is not going to get better. The question is how much worse will it get? Japan has to consider the economic consequences of its decisions at this point. Shipping losses will not be replaced. Aircraft and pilot losses are more costly than LCU losses. The smart play for Japan would be to get out with as much of his shipping and air power as practical. Let the LCUs fight a rear guard action, and rebuild them as best they can for defensive operations in 1944 if Japan survives.

It was an interesting experiment. Alas............... [:)]

Congratulations on hitting his light carriers. He might even lose more during the long trek to a safe repair base - especially if there is any flotation damage and high system damage which includes the pumps.

To replenish his airgroups faster, he can turn off replacements. Then, when he can get replacements for that air unit, turn on replacements and divide the unit. Each subunit then can take 12 replacements. Reform the unit and it will be strong again - but the pilots will still be fatigued. Turn off the replacements and repeat each week as necessary. Many of his prewar KB pilots were already lost over your bases so his quality should be dropping fast.

For the ground units, even recovering a part of the unit will allow it to rebuild the entire unit. If you go to the ground unit screen, you can turn on replacements there which will then allow the fragment to get the replacements. You have to do it every turn otherwise the replacements will be turned off. He could even fly part of units to Cold Harbor with float planes.

Hit him hard where you can. At LA, considering having even one unit on reserve (pursuit) so when you do evict him, you will be then at his next base and able to move your attacking force while he is ejecting your blocking force. I would recommend using a restricted unit for this in case it is lost.

At LA, considering having even one unit on reserve (pursuit) so when you do evict him, you will be then at his next base and able to move your attacking force while he is ejecting your blocking force. I would recommend using a restricted unit for this in case it is lost.

He will want a armor unit as the pursuer. The 2nd Armor Division, or what is left of it, is just about perfect for this role. It is white restricted, it will gain control of the hexside allowing for rapid reinforcement from L.A., and it has enough armor strength to withstand any likely Japanese attack in clear terrain.

Still no turn. Maybe tomorrow.

Back to work tomorrow as well so I might not have time to update the AAR even if I get the turn.