The Turning Point: floydg (A) & Coach Z (J) -- Luganville liberated

[n01487477]

Lanchester's Laws ... working as stated.

It has been such a long time since I played stock,  but with FM-2 Wildcats and Corsairs not long off good times are coming [;)]

[floydg]

ORIGINAL: n01487477

Lanchester's Laws ... working as stated.

It has been such a long time since I played stock,  but with FM-2 Wildcats and Corsairs not long off good times are coming [;)]

That's what I said about the P-38's, but it seems my pilots are no match for his, so the better rig isn't making that much of a difference.

[n01487477]

Yeah I remember I said the same at the time too  ... only one thing to do, as I think you are suggesting. Get a huge number of fighters and out sweep him, causing so much attrition he can't possibly replace his losses. Sometimes it is all about brute force, and as my learned opponent often states, "think like a Samurai, wait and strike cutting off the head in one deft stroke". Of course a war of attrition is necessary too.

[floydg]

ORIGINAL: n01487477
Yeah I remember I said the same at the time too  ... only one thing to do, as I think you are suggesting. Get a huge number of fighters and out sweep him, causing so much attrition he can't possibly replace his losses. Sometimes it is all about brute force, and as my learned opponent often states, "think like a Samurai, wait and strike cutting off the head in one deft stroke". Of course a war of attrition is necessary too.

Yes, I'll try a Nemo-style approach in some of my thorniest areas. I'm now building up my long-range fighters for a decent showing. I should have about 50, which will be a far cry from the dozen or so I was sending up before.

[floydg]

November 18, 1942

Highlights: Changsha teetering

• The BB South Dakota, BB Washington, CA Vincennes, and 3xCL bombard Amchitka Island, doing minor damage. Aerial bombardments add just a little to the damage.
• Allies bomb the airfields at Luganville and Efate, doing minor damage to each.
• Japanese troops attack at Changsha and knock the fortifications down to 1, but the Chinese hold on, with no chance of relief.

Analysis: Changsha won't last long, but then again, I can't really expect it to.
In the Aleutians, I'm holding back a counter-attack at Amchitka Island, so maybe my RCT will recover enough disruption to be able to mount an attack. I'll try soon...

[floydg]

November 19, 1942

Highlights: Chinese in the north fall back; Japanese rule the air in China

• At Kwajalein, the SS S-46 sinks the MSW Wa 1 with a single torpedo.
• Japanese do major damage on a bombing of the airbase at Changsha. The bombing of Wuchow does minor damage to the airbase, but almost all of the 28 planes on CAP are downed by the almost 70 Japanese escorts.
• Japanese sweeps over Thursday Island net 15 Allied for 5 Japanese fighters. The Allies were outnumbered about 3-to-1, but still made a valiant stand.
• East of Kungchang, the Japanese attack and the Chinese fall back to Kungchang.

Analysis: This turn seemed focused on China. Changsha took a pounding by air, aided by the fact that I pulled back all of my aircraft from there several days ago. He really only cares about the supply hits.
Now the victors at Yenen have forced me back to Kungchang, so I'm about to lose my three northern bases as he cuts me off there.
Boy, my China operations are a shambles... [:(]

[floydg]

Yes, I know, too many words and not enough pictures. But at least I don't post combatreport.txt files... [;)]

Here is the situation in Burma:


North of Akyab, I have an Indian Division, Chindit Brigade, Tank Brigade and Artillery Regiment. This will probably not be enough to secure the base, but it will distract him from other places.

Northeast of Mandalay, there's two Burma brigades, an Indian division, a rifles brigade, a Carabineers regiment and a HQ blocking the road to Myitikyina. Probably not the best use of my forces, but it does stop the flow of supply to Myitkyina.

Northwest of Mandalay there's a Chindit Brigade, Indian Brigade and Artillery Regiment waiting for a UK division to march towards Mandalay. He has the 55th Division blocking my way, so I'll probably be pinned down there, but it's more engagements for him.

At Myitkyina, I have quite a bit of stuff, adding up to almost 1100 AV, with a mix of artillery, armor and infantry. All 100% prepped for the attack.

I have realized that I'll need more troops, so additional forces are marching from India now. I'm not sure if this will all work, but I need to do something to keep him engaged...

[floydg]

November 20, 1942

Highlights: Changsha falls

• West of Broome, the SS Skipjack takes a depth charge hit, while at Adak Island, the SS I-3 takes two direct depth charge hits.
• The Japanese bomb the airbases at Wuchow, doing minor damage while downing 9 of 13 planes on CAP; Kungchang is also attacked, doing minor damage.
• The Japanese forces again attack at Changsha, but this time, it was too much for the Chinese to handle, and commanding General Ma orders a surrender.
• The airfield at Anchorage expands to level 7.

Analysis: It was destined to happen. I'm glad it's over. Now I get to concentrate on saving China... [;)]

[floydg]

November 21, 1942

Highlights: Two American subs hit; fires in Burma

• South of Rabaul, the SS S-41 takes a depth charge hit and must return to port. And a little later, south of Honshu, the SS Whale takes a hit and also must return.
• 9 x Beaufighter VIF's make a run on the industry at Mandalay and report starting some fires.
• At Amchitka Island, a Japanese barge is sunk by 5 Allied DD's.
• The Allies soften up Japanese troops at Amchitka Island and Efate.
• The airfield at Chengting expands to level 6 and Allied engineers report running out of room after expanding the airfield to level 9 at Sydney.

Analysis: I started my first fires in Burma! Coach Z keeps saying my night raids are worthless, but my squadron has improved experience and now has started some fires (3, but it's the thought that counts). This has two benefits: now he may be forced to put valuable fighters on night CAP, removing them from day actions; and most importantly, it makes me happy to see these planes finally do something. I assume the fires will be out soon and the damage will be small, but it's just the start.
Elsewhere, I'm softening things up. My RCT at Amchitka Island needs a lot more time to recover before they can attack, and I'm thinking to unload an NZ brigade at Efate to keep him confused. But my actions at Attu and Luganville are getting closer...

[floydg]

November 22, 1942

Highlights: Attu and Kungchang bombed

• Japanese bomb the airbase at Kungchang, but the Hurricane II's defending shoot down 4 escorting Tojo's and the bombers only do minor damage to the airbase.
• The Allies bomb Attu. The first wave consists of 12xWellington, 39xB-26B and 7xP-38G. The 20 Japanese on CAP shoot down 9 bombers and the damage to the airbase is slight. The second wave is 151xB-24D and 15xB-17E. There are only 5 Tojo's on CAP now and only one bomber is lost. The damage to the airbase is moderate.
• Southeast of Chungking, a Japanese armored unit crosses the river to join the brigade already there blocking the Chinese. The Chinese can't hold back the armor, but do destroy a few tanks.
• The port at Umnak Island expands to level 4.

Analysis: My bombing campaign of Attu has begun. First I plan to close the airbase with over 200 bombers, then pound the ground troops, then invade. Of course, I assume his carriers are lurking in the distance, waiting to hit my juicy transports after a quick sprint in. So I need to invade when the weather looks bad. Of course, being winter, it's almost always bad. But my "Blizzard Bombers" still fly...
I also will start a bombing campaign against Luganville, which should last about a week. Then my troops will be rested enough for the invasion.
Of course, Coach Z feels my pace is too slow. I suppose I should agree with him, but I'm still uneasy about some of these invasions, especially since I saw his last three fall flat on its' face (Thursday Island, Perth, Canton Island).
In China, I'm slowly backing into a corner, so I hope I can get some lucky breaks...

[floydg]

November 23, 1942

Highlights: Efate invaded; Myitkyina defense buckling; Attu pounded

• Six American subchasers encounter the SS I-166 east of Adak Island. Two direct depth charge hits are made on the sub and she sinks. This sub had previously finished off the North Carolina and an AK.
• Several PT boats enter the area around Attu, looking for a fight, but instead, the PT PT-161 hits two mines and sinks.
• The Japanese bomb Kungchang again, but this time 25 Hurricanes are there to meet them. 6 Tojo and two bombers are downed for 5 British fighters. The airbase took slight damage.
• The Allies bomb Attu again in two waves, totaling over 200 bombers, doing major damage to the base.
• Allies begin to invade Efate. The Fiji Brigade begins to secure a beachhead.
• The Allies attack at Myitkyina, reducing the fortifications back down to 2 and pushing the Japanese deeper into the city.
• The port of Madras expands to level 9.

Analysis: Sunk the I-166, which is a morale victory for me. And the count is now 28 subs, which is just under half his sub fleet. That's gotta hurt.
I think I closed the airbase at Attu, finally, so I'll see if this draws out his lurking carriers when I bait them with some ships headed into Attu.
And I had to start invading around New Caledonia, so I took a token action against Efate.
Finally, to end the turn on a high note, the attack at Myitkyina was successful in reducing the forts and I didn't take many casualties, so the troops are eager for another go.

[floydg]

November 24, 1942

Highlights: Progress at Myitkyina

• The Allies bomb the airbase at Attu Island again. No CAP is defending and the airbase again takes major damage.
• The Japanese make a fighter sweep at Kungchang and 20 Tojo face off on 19 Hurricanes, downing 7 Hurricanes to only 2 Tojo.
• The Japanese attack at Efate, nearly driving the Fiji Brigade off their beachhead. This is caused by a mis-communication because the rest of the troops were not unloaded on the beaches as desired.
• Several Chinese units again enter the area around Hengchow. The Japanese attack, but the Chinese hold their position, despite taking over 1000 casualties (Japanese took almost 1800).
• The Allies again attack at Myitkyina and again reduce more fortifications (down to 1). They do take over 1600 casualties, but may be ready for another attack.
• The Japanese attempt to supply Myitkyina by air, but the allies station sufficient fighters there to prevent many transports from delivering their goods, no less returning back to their bases.
• Spies report the port at Taipei expanding to level 3 and to level 4 at Port Moresby.

Analysis: It's clear that I shut down the airfield at Attu. I don't even see the airfield icon on the base any more, so I assume there are no planes left. I'll make a run now on Kiska, which still can operate fighters and dive bombers. Then all I need to worry about is his carriers lurking off in the distance. I'll shuffle some subs around and start searching for him, since I can't see him giving up that easily - especially if I take Attu, I'll be a jump away from Japan...
Myitkyina is progressing well. The troops are not that in that bad of a shape disruption-wise, so we'll attack again.
And at Efate, I'll unload the rest of the troops and hope they can hold on. This looks dicey, so I will need to bring in reinforcements and bomb the crap out of the base. I thought they would be out of supply, but that's not the case. Oops...

[ny59giants]

The Japanese attack at Efate, nearly driving the Fiji Brigade off their beachhead. This is caused by a mis-communication because the rest of the troops were not unloaded on the beaches as desired.

For some reasom, I often have to bring up my transport TF and tell it to unload the turn after the initial invsaion takes place. Its more micro-managment, but something that should truly not be necessary.

Side note - What is your opinion of the NFL draft?? The Giants rookie mini-camp is this weekend.

[floydg]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

The Japanese attack at Efate, nearly driving the Fiji Brigade off their beachhead. This is caused by a mis-communication because the rest of the troops were not unloaded on the beaches as desired.

For some reasom, I often have to bring up my transport TF and tell it to unload the turn after the initial invsaion takes place. Its more micro-managment, but something that should truly not be necessary.

This was my fault: I had the TF set to "Do not unload" when they first arrived at Efate, but they decided to unload anyhow. Now I needed to continue the invasion, but forgot to set the TF to "Unload", and the second turn they were more obliging to my orders and didn't bother to unload. [:(]

Side note - What is your opinion of the NFL draft?? The Giants rookie mini-camp is this weekend.

I actually didn't catch any of it. I suppose that's like not checking the reinforcement screens... [;)]

[floydg]

November 25, 1942

Highlights: Myitkyina captured!

• The Fiji Brigade continues to unload at Efate. The Japanese attack again, but fail to drive them off the beach.
• The Japanese send fighters in to sweep at Kungchang. The 25 Allied fighters on CAP down 8 of the 31 attackers, losing only 2 of their own.
• A Japanese attack on the Chinese at Hengchow again drives the Chinese back.
• A Japanese armored unit crosses the river northwest of Changsha and the Chinese attack. All units hold their positions.
• The Allies attack again at Myitkyina. The Allies know just where to attack and the Japanese break and retreat southwest towards Lashio, allowing the Allies to move in and capture the base.

Analysis: Top news is that I finally captured Myitkyina! This operation has been in plan and action for 7 months (game time) and I finally put it all together. His troops moved out towards Lashio, so he'll have a nice jungle march. Only a few of my units are in decent enough shape to get back in action, so I'll be moving some west to break up the roadblock towards Mandalay and I'll move some Chinese back towards China to maintain the Burma Road.
My troops have entered Akyab again, so hopefully this will pin down more of his troops while I make the move on Mandalay.
I got more troops at Efate, but his last attack was 14-to-1, so I'll definitely need some help there. So a bombardment force is on the way, I'll do some 4E bombing and I'm loading up another brigade to bring over to beef up the beachhead.

[floydg]

Here is who was battling it out at Myitkyina:

The two tank brigades will move west and the 22nd Chinese Division will move southeast.

[floydg]

November 26, 1942

Highlights: Battles at Attu

• Reinforcements arrive at Amchitka Island and the Fiji Brigade finishes unloading at Efate.
• Four Allied MSW enter the area around Attu Island to begin clearing mines prior to an invasion. The MSW's are intercepted by the BB Mutsu, CA Haguro, CA Nachi and three DD's. In two quick engagements, the MSW are sunk without firing a single shot in defense. The Japanese then retire, so 7 DMS also entering the area around Attu are unscathed.
• The SS S-43, laying mines at Kwajalein, hits a Japanese mine.
• The Japanese make a fighter sweep over Kungchang again and the 63 Japanese encounter 25 Allied planes. The Japanese lose 11 fighters to 9 Allied.
• Japanese bomb Thursday Island and destroy a few Kittyhawks on the ground.
• The Japanese attack the invaders at Efate and still cannot push the Fiji Brigade off the beach.
• More Japanese cross the river northwest of Changsha. They take over 1700 casualties in the crossing. When the Chinese attack, the Japanese are already in decent position and inflict over 1300 casualties on the Chinese.
• Allies begin the siege of Akyab. The Japanese are defending with 1/3 of the Imperial Guards Division and the 11th NLF.

Analysis: I moved an USMC Raider Battallion to Amchitka to help when I'm ready to attack.
I moved a few ships in to Attu and they got plastered. So my 3xBB TF will move in next turn.
Things at Efate are looking better, as he can't seem to push me off the island, so I shoud be well planted there now.
Had a decent showing in the air in China, but I assume that won't last long, so I'll enjoy it for now.
And I finally made it to Akyab. It could be tough to take with what I have there now, but I'll have to give it a shot and see what happens.

[floydg]

November 27, 1942

Highlights: BB battle at Attu

• At nighttime around Attu, the Allies and Japanese face off. The Japanese have the BB Haruna, BB Kirishima, BB Musashi, CA Chokai, CA Aoba, CA Kako, 3xCL and 5xDD, while the Allies show up with BB Washington, BB South Dakota, BB Indiana, CA Vincennes, 3xCL and 8xDD.
  In the first round, a few shells hit on both sides, but no significant damage is taken.
  In the second round, the Allies get pounded. The BB South Dakota takes 9 hits and is heavily damaged, the BB Indiana takes 10 hits, the CA Vincennes takes 14 shell and 2 torpedo hits and sinks, the DD Edwards is sunk. The Japanese take minor damage at best.
• The BB California, 2xCL and 5xDD bombard Efate, but the ships take numerous coastal gun hits and some of the DD's are heavily damaged.
• Air raids soften up the Japanese troops and then when the Japanese attack, the Fiji Brigade holds well.
• A small TF of American PT boats enter the area around Attu and while they look for targets, the PT-151 hits a mine and sinks. This alerts the Japanese to their presence and two DD and two MSW encounter the other five PT's and proceeds to sink them before they can get a single shot off.
• In China, the Japanese bomb Kunming and Wuchow, doing minor damage to both airbases.
• The Japanese bomb the airbase at Thursday Island. 14 Allied fighters intercept the 47 escorts and 38 bombers. They do a decent job, shooting down 11 Japanese, losing 11 of their own. The airbase was barely damaged.
• Betty's from Lunga attack some MSW at Koumac. One Betty is downed, but they do score torpedo hits on three of the ships, sinking the MSW Launceton.
• A Chinese unit probes at Hengchow and is pummeled by the Japanese and the survivors retreat.
• West of Myitkyina, the Japanese attack, as they have been reinforced. The Allies have also reinforced and the Japanese take over 1300 casualties to about 150 Allied.

Analysis: I got whupped at Attu. I don't think I did significant damage to any of his ships and I lost a CA and DD. The BB South Dakota is in terrible shape and the rest of my ships will need short to really long yard time before they can reasonably get back into the fight. So that was a complete failure. With him holding Attu with that force, I can't consider invading now. So I'll gather up my carriers (4 of them now, Essex coming soon) and support the invasion that way. But that will be a good 4-5 weeks away and I don't know where his carriers are (though I'm sure some must still be up that way). [:(]
And now with Betty's operating out of Lunga, I need to tread carefully around New Caledonia.
On the positive side, it looks like I may be well dug in at Efate and he doesn't have as many troops at Akyab as I expected.
The past few turns have not been good for the Allies...

[ny59giants]

The BB California, 2xCL and 5xDD bombard Efate, but the ships take numerous coastal gun hits and some of the DD's are heavily damaged.

I tend to not have my escorts bombard for most bombardment missions due to this happening. Unless I have gone there before and know they will be safe. They don't add a lot to the damage total in most cases.

Could you posy a screenshot of sunken warships (no merchants) to date for both sides??

[floydg]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

The BB California, 2xCL and 5xDD bombard Efate, but the ships take numerous coastal gun hits and some of the DD's are heavily damaged.

I tend to not have my escorts bombard for most bombardment missions due to this happening. Unless I have gone there before and know they will be safe. They don't add a lot to the damage total in most cases.

I thought they'd be safe, as I had been there before and the damage was light at best, and I had been bombing his troops for a while. But luck would have it, I hadn't seen the worst. I'm sure I'll never learn...

Could you post a screenshot of sunken warships (no merchants) to date for both sides??

Sunk count:

Code: Select all

Ships sunk:
                       Japan  Allies
           CV/CVL/CVE :   4      2
                BB/BC :   1      6
        CA/CL/CLAA/CS :  17     19
                DD/DE :  37     41
              MSW/DMS :  30     26
                  APD :   0      4
               AV/AVD :   2      2
                ML/DM :   9      0
                   AO :   4      2
                   SS :  28     12
             PC/PG/SC :  27      5
                   AP :  46     25
                   AK :  29     53
                   AG :   0      0
                   TK :   3      1
                   PT :   6     47
        Landing craft :   0      0
                   AS :   0      0
                   AD :   0      0
                   AR :   0      0
                   AE :   0      0
                  AGP :   0      0
                  MLE :   0      0

Highlights (lowlights?) of my losses:


And my victories: