RE: The Clash of Titans...another allied victory?
Posted: Wed Sep 04, 2013 5:30 am
by GreyJoy
Feb 5, 1944
Brad is driving me crazy...
Another massive landing on the other side of the map.
Ramree island is invested. A full indian division, supported by a motorized brigade, landed at Ramree Island. LSIs and LSTs, supported by a RN cruiser force.
The invaders met 3 rather weak infantry regiments and a mortar battalion.
I forgot to give escort to 2 Judy sentais... they took off from Rangoon and got slaughtered by his LRCAP from Akyab. 40 of them got shot down with only a few passing through and making the attack, placing only a single 500kg bomb on a British CL...
We got a little revenge in central Burma, where we ambushed 80 Vengeances attacking the 48th/C Div moving in the jungle east of Akyab...downing 70 of them for no loss[8D]. The Burma air Army continues with its incredible score!
At Sarmi the landings continue unmolested. I'm holding my counter move here, waiting for his CVs to pop up.
So now we have American CVEs near Hollandia, more near Port Hedland (with some APAs spotted there), a cruiser force in the Bay of Bengal (approx. 14 hexes NW of Port Blair), not to consider the fake invasion of Wake Island and the series of decoy TFs in the I.O. west of Sumatra...
He's clearly trying to attack on multiple vector, in order to puzzle my defences and unbalance me.
Here now I need discipline. I cannot go and defend everywhere, nor I can react to every attempt of his to drive away my attention, my focus.
My bet: his CVs may be in two places basically: hidden in the Coral Sea, behind New Britain, waiting for a penetration towards Woleai (CENTPAC), or in the I.O., in order to jump on Sumatra as soon as I eat one of his other baits.
Also they could be near Cylon...waiting for an operation against the Adamans...
Sarmi is important, but not decisive.
Ramree is important. But he has already landed there. I have a plan to defend my western Burmese flank.
The Mariannas are covered.
The Kuriles are impracticable (blizzard time).
Sumatra, the Adamans and Timor are the priorities. Discipline Greyjoy. Stay focused and don't go hunting lullabies and ghosts .
RE: The Clash of Titans...another allied victory?
Posted: Wed Sep 04, 2013 7:37 am
by GreyJoy
ORIGINAL: veji1
That in february 44 you are still in this situation although by early 43 he already was starting to attack the DEI is a testament to your defense. Keep hanging on ! BANZAI
Yes, we paid an heavy price in order to slow him down in the southern DEI. My pools, despite still decent, will never be what they used to be at the beginning of 1943. The IJNAF lost pretty much all its experienced bombing pilots. We have decent ones now, but nothing compared to what used to be.
After all I have some regrets. I have met the allied CVs 4 times now, and I never managed to inflict a decisive defeat to them. It's always been a minor victory...nothing really decisive.
In Jan 1943 we've encountered the enemies near Townville and we, despite a complete superiority, sunk only 1 BB and 1 CV (even if damaging 3 more CVs).
Then we had the clash near Ocean Island...where 3 enemy's CVEs were lost but at the cost of 400 ija pilots...
Then near Hansa Bay...again many damaged CVs but not a single one sunk (Yorktown, who had been reported sunk in that battle, was recently confirmed alive by jap intel[:o]).
We had that disastrous operation against his CVs parked at Darwin, where we lost 500 more pilots...
Then at Kaimana... finally we sunk 3 CVs and damaged the Wasp for the 3rd time... but, yet again, the allies maintain a huge superiority now in 1944, even if we never lost a CV...
Not to talk about the surface fleet. 2 BBs 10 CLs and countless number of DDs lost in the southern DEI during the series of battles that raged in 1943 during his advance from Darwin to Saumlaki and the northern coast of NG...
Really an heavy price...but was necessary. The oil kept on flowing till feb 1944...and that is the main goal... everything else is irrilevant
THE HEAD OF THE SNAKE
Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2013 4:02 pm
by GreyJoy
Feb 6, 1944
So here it comes.
While a fierce battle over the skies and in the waters of Sarmi and Ramree Is. rages on, the allies finally reveal their main vector:
FROM BROOME to KOEPANG-ROTI!!!
Several TFs including APA/AKA/LSTs and at least 2 CVEs TFs and 2 CV/CVL TFs suddenly popped up. Also the major BBs are present.
The most advanced TFs on his advance are 7 hexes southwest of Koepang.
The only Kamikaze Sentai took off and hit something, while the rest of my air army keeps on jumping from base to base in order to avoid his sweeps.
The KB is spotted at Makassar, while my SAGs are at Lautem and Kendari... we are in a perfect position. Could not ask for anything more.
Lots of para operations are repulsed at Pantar and Weitar...he wants to isolate Timor...
Lost few minor naval engagements today... but now the decisive battle is upon us. The battle we've been waiting for more than 2 years. The real clash of Titans.
We win or we lose. There's no grey colour waiting for us.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Feb 06, 44
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Sarmi at 91,114, Range 9,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CL Kitakami
DD Kamikaze
DD Oite, Shell hits 1
DD Yunagi
DD Yukaze
DD Tachikaze
DD Tatsukaze
DD Suruyame
Allied Ships
DD Fanning
DD Cushing
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Sarmi at 91,114, Range 10,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CL Kitakami, Shell hits 2
DD Kamikaze
DD Oite, Shell hits 1
DD Yunagi, Shell hits 1
DD Yukaze
DD Tachikaze
DD Tatsukaze
DD Suruyame
Allied Ships
DD Nestor
DD Napier, Shell hits 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Sarmi at 91,114, Range 8,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CL Kitakami, Shell hits 2
DD Kamikaze, Shell hits 1
DD Oite
DD Yunagi, Shell hits 1, heavy fires
DD Yukaze
DD Tachikaze, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Tatsukaze, Shell hits 1
DD Suruyame
Allied Ships
DD Ammen, Shell hits 2
DD Bradford, Shell hits 1
DD Bush, Shell hits 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Ramree Island at 54,48, Range 2,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CL Isuzu
DD Naganami
DD Asashio
DD Oshio
DD Minegumo
DD Hatsuyuki
DD Ayanami
CL Teshio
Allied Ships
MTB 275
MTB 276
MTB 277
MTB 278
MTB 279
MTB 280, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Sarmi at 92,114, Range 8,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
E Fuyo
E Karukaya
E Susuki
E Yanagi
E Kamo
Allied Ships
DD Fanning, Shell hits 1
DD Cushing, Shell hits 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Sarmi at 91,114, Range 9,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CL Sakawa
DD Matsu
DD Okikaze
DD Shiokaze
DD Yakaze
DD Hokaze
DD Nokaze
DD Tawakaze
Allied Ships
DD Eaton
DD Gillespie
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Ramree Island at 53,47, Range 2,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CL Isuzu
DD Naganami
DD Asashio
DD Oshio
DD Minegumo
DD Hatsuyuki
DD Ayanami
CL Teshio
Allied Ships
MTB 275
MTB 276
MTB 277
MTB 278
MTB 279, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Sarmi at 91,114, Range 8,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CL Sakawa, Shell hits 1
DD Matsu, Shell hits 14, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Okikaze, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Shiokaze
DD Yakaze
DD Hokaze
DD Nokaze, Shell hits 1
DD Tawakaze
Allied Ships
CA Vincennes
CA Wichita, Shell hits 1
CA Suffolk, Shell hits 2
DD Cony, Shell hits 1
DD Fullam, Shell hits 2
DD Lansdowne
DD Meade
DD Lang
DD Shaw, Shell hits 5, on fire
DD Perkins
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Ramree Island at 54,48
Allied Ships
BB Queen Elizabeth
BC Renown
DD Quiberon
DD Quickmatch
DD Nepal
DD Sims
DD Lardner
Japanese ground losses:
19 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Port hits 11
Port supply hits 4
BB Queen Elizabeth firing at 55th/B Division
BC Renown firing at Ramree Island
DD Quiberon firing at 41st Infantry Regiment
DD Quickmatch firing at 55th/B Division
DD Nepal firing at 55th/B Division
DD Sims firing at 55th/B Division
DD Lardner firing at Ramree Island
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Night Naval bombardment of Ramree Island at 54,48
Allied Ships
CA Frobisher
CA Shropshire
DD Quilliam
DD Queensborough
DD Petard
DD Penn
DD Thanet
DD Tenedos
DD Stronghold
DD Scout
Port hits 1
Port supply hits 1
CA Frobisher firing at 21st Ind.Mixed Brigade
CA Shropshire firing at Ramree Island
DD Quilliam firing at Ramree Island
DD Queensborough firing at 55th/B Division
DD Petard firing at Ramree Island
DD Penn firing at 55th/B Division
DD Thanet firing at Ramree Island
DD Tenedos firing at 55th/B Division
DD Stronghold firing at Ramree Island
DD Scout firing at Ramree Island
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Akyab at 54,46, Range 4,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CL Isuzu
DD Naganami
DD Asashio
DD Oshio
DD Minegumo
DD Hatsuyuki
DD Ayanami
CL Teshio
Allied Ships
MTB 275
MTB 276
MTB 277
MTB 278, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Sarmi at 91,114, Range 24,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
E Fuyo
E Karukaya, Shell hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
E Susuki
E Yanagi
E Kamo, Shell hits 15, and is sunk
Allied Ships
CA Vincennes
CA Wichita
CA Suffolk
DD Cony
DD Fullam
DD Lansdowne
DD Meade
DD Lang
DD Shaw
DD Perkins
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Akyab at 54,46, Range 6,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CL Isuzu, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
DD Naganami
DD Asashio
DD Oshio, Shell hits 2
DD Minegumo, Shell hits 1
DD Hatsuyuki
DD Ayanami, Shell hits 1
CL Teshio, Shell hits 2
Allied Ships
BB Queen Elizabeth, Shell hits 4
BC Renown
DD Lardner, Shell hits 4, heavy fires
DD Sims, Shell hits 1
DD Nepal
DD Quickmatch, Shell hits 1
DD Quiberon
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Biak at 88,111
Japanese Ships
DD Tachikaze, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
CL Kitakami
DD Yunagi
DD Oite
DD Kamikaze
DD Suruyame
DD Tatsukaze
DD Yukaze
Allied Ships
SS Golet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Lomblen at 69,111
Japanese Ships
PB Syozui Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
PB Ikuta Maru
PB Spey Maru
PB Tokyo Maru
Allied Ships
SS Silversides
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Sarmi at 91,114
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Japanese aircraft
P1Y1 Frances x 22
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 35
Ki-84r Frank x 23
Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk III x 5
Spitfire Vc Trop x 3
Kittyhawk III x 7
Kittyhawk IV x 5
P-38G Lightning x 6
P-40K Warhawk x 7
F4F-4 Wildcat x 2
FM-1 Wildcat x 14
F4U-1 Corsair x 11
Japanese aircraft losses
P1Y1 Frances: 3 damaged
P1Y1 Frances: 1 destroyed by flak
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar: 12 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk III: 1 destroyed
Kittyhawk III: 1 destroyed
Kittyhawk IV: 2 destroyed
FM-1 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
Allied Ships
LST-125, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
LST-170
LST-172
LST-72, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
LST-78, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DE Dionne, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
LST-171, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Sarmi at 91,114
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Japanese aircraft
B6N2 Jill x 41
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 40
Ki-84r Frank x 34
Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk III x 5
Spitfire Vc Trop x 3
Kittyhawk III x 2
Kittyhawk IV x 1
P-38G Lightning x 5
P-39N1 Airacobra x 4
P-40K Warhawk x 6
FM-1 Wildcat x 11
F4U-1 Corsair x 9
Japanese aircraft losses
B6N2 Jill: 12 destroyed, 5 damaged
B6N2 Jill: 1 destroyed by flak
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar: 7 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk III: 1 destroyed
Spitfire Vc Trop: 1 destroyed
P-38G Lightning: 1 destroyed
P-39N1 Airacobra: 1 destroyed
P-40K Warhawk: 1 destroyed
FM-1 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
F4U-1 Corsair: 3 destroyed
Allied Ships
LST-167, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
LST-126, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
LST-170, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DE Doneff, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
LST-172, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Roti at 64,121
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 38,400 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 30
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar: 16 destroyed
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar: 2 destroyed by flak
Allied Ships
APD Noa, Kamikaze hits 1
LST-478, Kamikaze hits 2, on fire
LCI-447, Kamikaze hits 1, and is sunk
LCI-446, Kamikaze hits 1, and is sunk
Allied ground losses:
532 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 19 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 9 disabled
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Broome at 61,120
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid detected at 49 NM, estimated altitude 38,400 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 3
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar: 2 destroyed
Allied Ships
xAP Kinta, Kamikaze hits 1, and is sunk
APA Barnett, Kamikaze hits 1
Allied ground losses:
519 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 9 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 17 destroyed, 11 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 7 (7 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Ki-43-IIIa Oscar flying as kamikaze
Kamikaze: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
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Ground combat at Sarmi (91,114)
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 15070 troops, 125 guns, 38 vehicles, Assault Value = 474
Defending force 15369 troops, 206 guns, 197 vehicles, Assault Value = 451
Japanese ground losses:
48 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Allied ground losses:
10 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Assaulting units:
39th Ind Engr Rgt /1
20th Ind Engineer Regiment
15th Division
44th Nav Gd /1
65th Construction Battalion
17th Army
67th Field AA Battalion
65th JNAF AF Unit
Defending units:
33rd Infantry Division
3rd USMC Tank Battalion
1/542nd Boat&Shore Engineer Battalion
XI US Corps
2/593rd Boat&Shore Engineer Battalion
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Ground combat at Ramree Island (54,48)
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 14046 troops, 145 guns, 12 vehicles, Assault Value = 416
Defending force 14148 troops, 319 guns, 326 vehicles, Assault Value = 640
Japanese ground losses:
9 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Assaulting units:
21st Ind.Mixed Brigade
41st Infantry Regiment
55th/B Division
5th Mortar Battalion
Defending units:
268th Motorised Brigade
23rd Indian Division
Provisionl Tank Bde /23
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Ground combat at Pantar (69,114)
Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 3007 troops, 30 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 170
Defending force 3198 troops, 22 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 71
Allied adjusted assault: 50
Japanese adjusted defense: 142
Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 3)
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), fatigue(-), morale(-)
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-)
Japanese ground losses:
402 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 29 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 10 (1 destroyed, 9 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
339 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 48 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Assaulting units:
503rd Parachute Rgt /1
77th LRP Bde /1
Defending units:
15th Naval Guard Unit
55th JNAF AF Unit
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Ground combat at Wetar (72,114)
Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 364 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 20
Defending force 1407 troops, 19 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 52
Allied adjusted assault: 6
Japanese adjusted defense: 17
Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 0)
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), fatigue(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(-)
Japanese ground losses:
24 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
143 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Assaulting units:
2/6 Commando Bn /1
Defending units:
32nd Nav Gsn Unit
RE: THE HEAD OF THE SNAKE
Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2013 5:04 am
by GreyJoy

Thanks for your honesty Paullus [:D]
Thanks Crib!
Still waiting for Brad to send the turn... these are loooong turns as you can imagine. I've dedicated more than 6 hours to my last one [X(][X(][X(]
BTW, a little explanation of the previous turn is needed imho.
SARMI: I've decided not to be too passive there and try to keep him honest. I've seen coming another amphib TFs, along with the usual cruiser SAG that operates in those waters since Nov 1943.
My idea was to intercept the amphib TF with the fast DDs, and then engage the big allied boys with some torps, in order to let my air army do the dirty job in the upcoming morning... But, as u see, things went completely differently. His DDs (which are sooooo strong by now) created an impenetrable screen and we didn't score a single torp against the allied cruisers, missing completely the amphib TFs... amphib TFs that, nonetheless, were still there in the morning...along with the cruisers.... don't know why my bombers didn't aim at the juicy cruisers... misteries of war!
Same at Ramree... we completely miss (despite being in the same hexes for two times in the same night!) a HUGE TF containing APA/LST/LSI etc... then we engaged the BBs which were short on salvos... but, again, despite the close range, not a single torp was scored [:(]
However my losses are relatively light considering the circumstances. 3 DDs, 3 "E" and 1 CL... could have been worse.
Now Timor... to be honest I didn't expect that move, even if I considered it possible.... it makes sense however: if he manages to grab Roti and the islands between Timor and Java he'll have completely bypass my second defensive line and he'll have neutralized, without invading, the whole Timor defences (thus isolating 100k men!)
...I'm scared to death for the upcoming battle...