Matrix Games Forums

Chinese reinforcements make it to the mountains in time for this attack:


Ground combat at 81,40 (near Tienshui)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 21599 troops, 219 guns, 425 vehicles, Assault Value = 547

Defending force 31260 troops, 85 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 697

Japanese adjusted assault: 162

Allied adjusted defense: 949

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 5

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
767 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 52 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 47 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 11 disabled
Vehicles lost 83 (8 destroyed, 75 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
586 casualties reported
Squads: 9 destroyed, 72 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)


Also repulse the Japanese to the northeast...

Lots of sweeps of Chungking...but not much in the way of bombing.

The true enemy of Japan is the USN...a lot of JFB lose sight of this, and go traipsing off on operations that don't damage the USN. I am working to really take large chunks of territory now...

The Baker Island Invasion forces is loading at Pearl Harbor...

Loading the Gilbert Island dot base (already own) reinforcements...

Death Star is moving up to Baker Island...

All but the Pennsylvania, Arizona, Nevada, Oklahoma are moving forward for the Marcus Island operation. I plan on using SC in their task forces for bombardment on Marcus...I haven't tested this yet, but I did confirm that the SC can be added to a surface task force.

Support ships...the AE, AKE, AVD, AD, AR, ARDs, ACMs, AGP are all moving forward into positions to support the Gilberts and Marcus Island operations.

Moving the Marine Defense units (those with CD guns) forward to help secure islands.

Short of Minelayers...but what we have is moving forward to help with bases.

PT boat creation taskforces have been created, but with the damage to Canton Island down to 30 Port, the level 2 Port was able to create a dozen PT boats this day (previous best was 1). These PT boats will move forward with fuel ship (xak) so they can get into the Gilberts. Will create another dozen PT boats tomorrow...the Gilberts will be overwhelmed with PT boat squadrons...

Subs are doing double duty, transporting troops (SST) to forward bases still held by the Allies, the large subs (60 capacity) supplies go forward, the others are acting as screens, patrolling enemy bases, and as pilot recovery task forces.

I am hoping to push into the Gilberts with the aid of the DS, then rotate them for the Marcus Island invasion, while using smaller ships and SSTs to continue pushing forward reinforcing all the way to Lunga area (where I still have a bunch of islands).

Other forces are bombarding IJ at Norfolk Island (north of NZ), and building up Wallis Island north of IJ forces at Pago Pago and Suva.

Troops are prepped for the Marianas and the Jimas.

Reinforcing the Aleutians from Canada is progressing.

Troops are just south of Darwin...building bases for better supply flow. Other troops are more than half way to Kalgoorlie...

I am not sure how far I can get...but I will push

Long time lurker. I appreciate your write ups and maps. thank you!

You plan on creating 12 more PTs after creating 12 already? Are you sure your pools have that many PTs?

Aug 29th, 1942

sweep again, Japan does a bit better...

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

You plan on creating 12 more PTs after creating 12 already? Are you sure your pools have that many PTs?

I will switch mission to escort, give them an xakl or sc, and send them to the Gilberts...

Baker Island invasion, 2 rgt, 1 armor, some support, is on its way.

Almost in position to take sea and air control of the Gilberts...more task forces will leave today as Deathstar catches up.

North Carolina is in port at Christmas Island...and will sit this one out I think, unless when TF South Dakota arrives at Christmas Island tomorrow they can make it in time for these operations...perhaps they will help with Tabby...maybe Baker.



Additionally, subs missed a merchant ship (of 3 spotted) of Nauru too. I bet Japan is worried about a shortage of resources...easy to do if China isn't conquered.

I see a sub 3 hexes E of DS. I assume the Japanese would send a Glen sub out to search the area it is in. Does DS show any detection?

ORIGINAL: Gnack

Long time lurker. I appreciate your write ups and maps. thank you!

Hello there!

Welcome and thanks....this game is going to be a hectic ride I think...Even were I to lose the Deathstar in a cataclysmic clash, I think I am getting to the point where I can keep moving forward....

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

I see a sub 3 hexes E of DS. I assume the Japanese would send a Glen sub out to search the area it is in. Does DS show any detection?

SBDs found those subs...so despite no DL, only the two SAGs to the west have DL on the now btw, I am sure he knows they are there.

A report from my codebreakers:

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

A report from my codebreakers:

Not complete, since I haven't loaded every turn into tracker as RL interfered with the game, but still pretty good. I definitely haven't been using the intel reports as well as I should be. Perhaps they not as important early game...

Thoughts on Clemson class conversions (spoiler - I like and use them all-- wish I had more of them):

APDs are darn useful. Good for a long time as the Allies are severely short fast transport capability.

DMS are very good to add to the BB bombardment task forces and safer CA bombardment groups. Perhaps they are too valuable in this role than in invasion task forces where AMs' can serve just as well (perhaps there are fuel concerns with AMs' though).

DE are extremely useful with AKV, BB bombardment task forces, hunter killer groups and fuel replenishment groups. Some of the latter American destroyers are also very good ASW platforms but they have better guns...they give some peace of mind.

DM..I have noticed a definite shortage of minelaying ships (not subs) early on for the Allies. This isn't so critical since production of the mines isn't great.

DD: leaving them as destroyers isn't a bad choice either, good raiders just avoid IJN SAGs...hide them in dot bases and use them when Japan least expects them. However, they are probably better off in other roles as they can provide greater utility for longer game time.

August 30th, 1942

Sub action... around Tabby

Japan knows the Deathstar is in the area...primary invasion force 32 hexes away moving fast.

Japan rushing forward shipping to Tabby...

I spotted a BB or two at Darwin a day ago...plus four BBs, and 400 CV planes at Ceylon. Gonna push hard into the Tabby area very shortly.

What should my tactics be with Deathstar?

At this stage of the war I have always thought of DS as invasion coverage against naval and air attack for your TFs, not using up sorties to pound enemy troops. The latter is OK, I guess, if you have the ability to replenish sorties but your carrier aircraft and pilots will still be fatigued. So in this situation I would have DS dancing away from his subs by going west of invasion targets. Sinking his reinforcement convoys in the Gilberts would help your plans a lot.

And if he already has too much on Tabituea, Abemama is a good buildable islet too.

Almost all the Gilberts are buildable, with somewhat generous troop levels.

I am pretty shocked to see all the forces I have available for this operation...the weak spot certainly is shipping (the AP, AK, APDs needed for this 0 port bases) and the other weak spot would be fear of a KB vs DS clash.

Flew 18 floats into Arorae with a naval strike of 2-3.

Deathstar is moving west, to four hexes east of Arorae with screening patrolling SAGS in the hex west, northwest and in the DS hex itself. Naval strikes to range 3, with half the cap escorting capping to range 3...would be happy just to take ground and avoid naval clashes at present (but the moonlight is high).

PT boats left in a one big group from Canton.

Minesweepers will arrive at Baker today...

August 31st, 1942

12 torpedoes fired in the midst of a heavy thunderstorm:

Bad weather, decent moonlight, too late to call them back...they were expendable.[;)]

Nothing will stop the Gilbert operations...most IJ SAGs are fleeing west or not spotted.

SSTs are dispatched...interesting to note than only one SST can load troops at a time and of course they have to be in a solo task force (task force size 1).

Will Japan hide some CLs and DD in dot bases? Who knows. Midget subs? Will hopefully get recon on Tabby today...

Mines most likely in Tabby...we won't let that slow us down even if we have to find them the old fashioned way...

Baker Island invasion force 25 hexes away (yesterday was it 32?).