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

[floydg]

November 28, 1942

Highlights: BB South Dakota sunk

• Japanese bomb Kunming and do minor damage to the airbase, but destroyers a decent number of Chinese fighters.
• An aerial bombardment of Thursday Island nets 10 Allied aircraft lost for just 1 Japanese, and the airbase took minor damage.
• Allies soften up the troops defending Efate and Akyab with ground attacks.
• B-26B's from Adak Island sink the ML Ma 3 and ML Ma 4 at Attu.
• Carrier planes from the CV Akagi attack the BB South Dakota, limping back from the failed mission at Attu. The battleship takes 4 torpedo hits and sinks (System damage was 72, float was 40ish and there were some fires; so most likely this battlewagon would have been out of the war for too long anyhow). The escorting DD Rathburne takes three bomb hits and is barely afloat.
• The defenders at Efate attack the Fiji Brigade and cannot make any headway at all.

Analysis: I knew he had carriers lurking by Attu, and this was his typical move to mop up the cripples. I would have respected that more, except my LRCAP barely flew and didn't touch his attacking planes. [:@]
Looks like he's attacked one time too many at Efate and now he's racked up a 0-on-1 and that should doom him, as I have more troops set to unload there tomorrow. The troops destined for Luganville are almost completely rested and ready for the fight. I should be loading them up by the end of the month and hopefully will have Luganville back in my hands by the end of the year.
In the Burma area, I'm now moving west from Myitkyina and should be lodging an attack soon to drive him south towards Mandalay. I have a few probing attacks to keep his troops engaged and am also going to attack at Akyab to get a feel for the defenses (I'm guessing level 7 forts). I have another UK division marching there and should be about 3 weeks out (I hope).

[ny59giants]

Your into winter until 1 March 43 in the Aleutians, so any offensive land comabt is going to be very costly for either of you. I would just dig in and wait until these four month go by.

[floydg]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Your into winter until 1 March 43 in the Aleutians, so any offensive land comabt is going to be very costly for either of you. I would just dig in and wait until these four month go by.

Digging in is easy and may be the best plan. The RCT I unloaded at Amchitka is ever-so-slowly recovering the almost complete disruption. They may be good to go in March... [;)]
I may just use the force planned for Attu to overwhelm him at Amchitka - all he has there are a few BF and engineer units.

[floydg]

November 29, 1942

Highlights: SS I-31 sunk

• The Japanese bomb Thursday Island again, doing minor damage.
• 30 Allied bombers hit the port at Attu Island, planting bombs on the AP Shinwa Maru and AP Daitei Maru, as well as the SS I-31, sinking her in port.
• The Japanese conduct some fighter sweeps over Akyab to shake off the Allied fighter cover. The Japanese do come out ahead, downing the small number of fighters the Allies mustered.
• The Allies attack at Akyab, not making any headway, but getting a good gauge of the defenses.

Analysis: I'm going to have to do something at Thursday Island, since he's starting to make this a milk run for his bombers. I'll need to move in a lot of fighters from somewhere.
Caught some damaged ships in port at Attu on a port attack. Not too shabby, as I have now sunk 29 subs, which is more than half of his force.
He has level 3 forts at Akyab, which is better than I had expected. Given all the time he had to prepare, I would have expected more. I'll rest a little and then attack again, hoping to reduce the forts. In the mean time, we'll try to soften up the 1/3 of Imperial Guards Division and 11th NLF defending there.
Also, he moved two Infantry divisions into Homan, so now I have another place to defend... Fortunately, that one has level 7 forts. [;)]

[ny59giants]

He has level 3 forts at Akyab, which is better than I had expected. Given all the time he had to prepare, I would have expected more. I'll rest a little and then attack again, hoping to reduce the forts. In the mean time, we'll try to soften up the 1/3 of Imperial Guards Division and 11th NLF defending there.

You could use some BB TF from Diamond Harbor to soften up the base and use LRCAP to intercept any Nell/Betty menace. [;)]

[floydg]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

He has level 3 forts at Akyab, which is better than I had expected. Given all the time he had to prepare, I would have expected more. I'll rest a little and then attack again, hoping to reduce the forts. In the mean time, we'll try to soften up the 1/3 of Imperial Guards Division and 11th NLF defending there.

You could use some BB TF from Diamond Harbor to soften up the base and use LRCAP to intercept any Nell/Betty menace. [;)]

That is an excellent idea. Chandpur (level 8 port) is only 5 hexes from Akyab, which is even nicer.

The only problem is that my BB are in Perth right now. I'll get them moving back ASAP, though. I have a CA and some CL in Ceylon, though (but with only 1537 total gun value, while the force in Perth is over 10K, including the slow BB Tennessee -- even with 38 system damage, the BB Resolution is almost as fast...).

[floydg]

November 30, 1942

Highlights: Some progress on both sides (?)

• Japanese make another go at Kungchang with 49 bombers and 42 fighters. 28 Allied fighters intercept and down 13 planes, losing 8 of their own. The airbase takes minor damage.
• Thursday Island is again bombed by the Japanese, doing minor damage.
• Zero's from Tawara sweep Nanomea Atoll and down 5 of 20 Buffalo.
• Allies bomb Kiska with 158 4E bombers. 26 Tony intercept and 9 bombers are downed to 8 fighters in the air and on the ground. Minor damage is done to the airbase.
• The two APs in the port at Attu Island are hit again.
• Allies attack at La Foa, but very little progress is made on the starving Japanese troops.
• Spies report the airfields at Amoy and Changsha expand to level 4, while a rudimentary port is constructed at Malang. Allied engineers expand the airfield at Chandpur to level 4.

Analysis: He still keeps coming at me at Kungchang. Fortunately, the Spitfire's and Hurricane's there are making a decent showing. And with the opening of the Burma Road, I can now get some supply in to directly do aircraft replacement in China and not have to keep flying them back to India.
I'm not sure what he's up to around Nanomea, except maybe just to get a feel for my defenses. I'll have to bolster that in case he does it again. I'm guessing he'll make a move for it, since he had some bad luck on previous invasions. So I have not been building anything there but forts. If he takes it and builds it up, it'll be a real thorn in my side.

[ny59giants]

Zero's from Tawara sweep Nanomea Atoll and down 5 of 20 Buffalo

What the hell is going on for you to be using Buffalo's this late in the game??

[floydg]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Zero's from Tawara sweep Nanomea Atoll and down 5 of 20 Buffalo

What the hell is going on for you to be using Buffalo's this late in the game??

[:)] It's not that bad. I hadn't had a chance to upgrade that group. I do have over 100 F4F-4's in the pool, so I suppose I should have upgraded them...
Plus, maybe it makes him think that I'm in dire straights. Yeah, that's the ticket...

[floydg]

December 1, 1942

Highlights: More troops at Efate

• Allied troops (14th NZ Brigade) unload at Efate. Coastal guns hit most of the AP's unloading. Then the SS I-33 locates the transport TF and puts a torpedo into the AP Largs Bay.
  Later in the day, Betty's attack, putting multiple torpedoes into the AP Empire Pride, DD Lamson, and AP Esperance Bay. The DD Lamson sinks.
• Japanese bomb Nanning, causing minor damage to the airbase.
• Allies bomb Mandalay with 60xB-25C and 12xBlenheim IV, escorted by 20xP-38G. The Japanese have 37xTony on CAP and they shoot down 12 bombers and 6 fighters. The Japanese lose about 9 planes in the air and at the airbase, which took only slight damage.
• The Japanese bomb Thursday Island with 39xHelen and 60 fighters. The Allies put up 30xP39-Ds, which down 9 Japanese fighters, but lose 11 of their own. The airbase takes a little damage.
• The Allies make two bomb runs on Kiska. The first results in the Japanese CAP forcing all of the attacking bombers to abort. The second does minor damage to the airbase.
• A Japanese Armored Division crosses the river northwest of Changsha and the Chinese attempt to repulse them, but they hold firm. Each side takes under 500 casualties.
• Nanking expands the airfield to level 4.

Analysis: Bolstering my forces at Efate, but the invasion fleet got plastered by Betty's from Lunga. I'll need to provide better air cover in the future, and now it's clear for when I invade Luganville, I'll need lots of fighters. So I plan to bring in some CVE to cover the invasion, but perhaps I'll wait until I can use Efate as a fighter base, so I'll need to take it first...
I thought I'd catch him with no cover at Mandalay, since they were all over Akyab, but that didn't work. [:(]
Over Thursday Island, the P-39's can't seem to do much to hold him back, but I am keeping him engaged with something that doesn't really mean much to me. And these fighters are easily replaced.

[floydg]

December 2, 1942

Highlights: Progress at Amchitka

• More Allied troops unload at Efate. The AP Largs Bay takes a few more shell hits.
• Japanese bomb Thursday Island, destroying 5 Allied planes to only 2 Japanese. Minor damage was done to the airbase.
• Betty's from Lunga attack some subchasers at Efate and sink the SC SC-638.
• American forces attack at Amchitka Island, knocking down the rudimentary fortifications erected and sending the Japanese defenders into their last foothold for control of the base.

Analysis: My troops were finally rested enough for me to be confident about an attack at Amchitka Island. The attack was good: 2-on-1 and knocked down his level 1 forts. The next attack should be good.
At Efate, the troops need to rest now and then I can make an attack.

[floydg]

December 3, 1942

Highlights: Amchitka Island liberated

• The SS S-43 succumbs to the damage it took from hitting a mine at Kwajalein and sinks before it can make it back to port.
• Japanese again bomb Thursday Island, destroying 12 Allied aircraft and causing minor damage to the airbase. No losses to the Japanese.
• The Japanese approach Nanomea Atoll with some surface ships. SBD's freshly moved to the airfield attack, putting 5 bombs into the PG Kaiun Maru and missing the CL Kashii.
  Then 40xBetty bomb the airbase. They are intercepted by 13 fighters, who shoot down four of the bombers and slight damage is done to the airbase.
• The Allies attack again at Amchitka Island and the Japanese abandon the base, falling back to hide in the far reaches of the island.
• Spies report that the Japanese have expanded the airfield at Eniwetok to level 3 and Apamama to level 1.

Analysis: Two attacks got me Amchitka Island! [:)] Unfortunately, the winter effects made me wait quite a while to recover the disruption (and the units are still about 60% disrupted). Now to root out the rest of his troops and build this base up so I can base fighters out of it for my attack on Attu/Kiska.
Well, he's certainly up to something around Nanomea, coming in with at least a CL and PG. Maybe he's trying to get me to react somehow, but at this point, all I care to do is reinforce the base with troops and move up more aircraft in case he invades. And there are 1000 mines there, so hopefully it'll do something.
And I didn't notice last turn, but he moved out of the hex west of Myitkyina toward Mandalay. I guess he figures it's easier to defend his base with rested troops rather than troops which had to retreat there (I'm with him on that). Question: does a base still produce resources/HI/Oil/Manpower if it's under seige?

[n01487477]

Question: does a base still produce resources/HI/Oil/Manpower if it's under seige?

No, it doesn't, or so I've read and been always told, but you know me I want independent verification and my own testing to back this up, which I've never done for this [;)]

Have a good one Floyd, will be emailing you again soon [:D]

[floydg]

ORIGINAL: n01487477

Question: does a base still produce resources/HI/Oil/Manpower if it's under seige?

No, it doesn't, or so I've read and been always told, but you know me I want independent verification and my own testing to back this up, which I've never done for this [;)]

Well, I hope for now that it doesn't, as I am inches away from Mandalay...

Have a good one Floyd, will be emailing you again soon [:D]

You, too. My inbox is waiting. Hopefully tomorrow I'll incorporate your stuff in...

[floydg]

December 4, 1942

Highlights: Japanese make progress at Kunchang

• North of Nanomea, 11xHudson strike the PG Kaiun Maru again, getting several bomb hits and eventually sinking her.
• At Funafuti, 4 Allied DD's are struck by Betty's and the DD Lang and DD Sterett each take two torpedo hits and sink.
• The Japanese attack at Kungchang and the Chinese are caught off guard and suffer 2000 casualties to 1700 Japanese. The forts are also reduced to level 2.
• The Americans attack the Japanese at Amchitka Island and force them further into the hidden areas of the island.
• The Allied forces attack at Efate, but the Japanese defenses are still strong and the Allies cannot progress.
• Allied spies report the airfield at Toyama increased to level 6 and Allied engineers report completing a level 8 upgrade to the airfield at Auckland, level 5 port at Kodiak and level 5 airbase at Alice Springs.

Analysis: The situation at Kungchang looks worse now - if Seth presses, I'll probably last under a week.
He's up to something around Nanomea. Not sure what, but I'm bolstering my defenses up there now.
My attack at Efate was 0-on-1, so I guess I have to work a little more to knock him down. I'm toying with the idea of dropping in a division, which will certainly turn the tide.
And since the airbase at Alice Springs is up to level 5, I should be able to get my 4E's to fly un-inhibited now.

[floydg]

December 5, 1942

Highlights: Progress at Akyab; SS I-156 sunk

• Northeast of Adak Island, a group of 6 subchasers locate the SS I-156 and hit twice directly with depth charges, sinking the sub.
• The CA Furutaka and CA Kumano bombard Nanomea Atoll, but cause only 30 casualties and destroy one gun.
• After some careful consideration of the situation at Akyab, Major General Cowan sees a possible opening in the Japanese lines and calls for a focused attack in that area. The Allies knock down some of the fortifications and makes some progress into unseating the Japanese from the base.
• Americans continue to root out Japanese at Amchitka Island.
• The airfield at Funafuti expands to level 4.

Analysis: Sunk another sub, which is good. I also hit one with a search plane east of Townsville, so I'll send out some ASW groups to probe around for a cripple.
Nanomea was bombarded by two CA's and he did virtually no damage, much to his great disappointment. I could hear the tears in his voice... [;)]
I got a really lucky roll at Akyab and racked up a 4-on-1, so I'll give it another shot, supported by every bomber I have in the area doing a ground attack and a naval bombardment at night.

[floydg]

December 6, 1942

Highlights: Akyab liberated [:D]

• The AK San Bernadino hits a Japanese-laid mine at Wallis Island.
• The CA Frobisher and 5 light cruisers bombard Akyab, doing minor damage, but causing more fear in the defending Japanese. The Allies then attack and the Japanese are routed, abandoning the base to the Allies and retreat east.
• Northwest of Changsha, the Japanese attack, but the Chinese are well-emplaced and the attack failed, causing over 1200 Japanese casualties to over 400 Chinese.
• At Kungchang, the Japanese attack, knocking down some fortifications and causing 1200 Chinese casualties to 1400 Japanese.
• The Chinese attack the two Japanese divisions poised outside of Homan and force them to retreat.

Analysis: Big news is the capture of Akyab! I think the naval bombardment certainly helped, so thanks to Michael for that tip. His troops retreated east, so now I have a (mostly) open road to Rangoon. I'll rest a day or two and then move out. I also have a UK Division marching south to lend a hand (for some reason they were about to move further south from 1 hex south of Imphal and then did a 180 and moved back into Imphal [:@]).
I found some mines at Wallis Island, which is not good, since the CV Lexington just pulled in there.
Now that he retreated at Homan, I think I'll press him back on that and see if I can mess up his inner defenses.

[floydg]

December 7, 1942

Highlights: Japan moving on Nanomea Atoll (?)

• Japanese bomb the airfield at Homan and do minor damage.
• 183 4E bombers hit the airfield at Kiska and do major damage. No CAP was over the field and no planes were reportedly destroyed in the bombing.
• Allies attempt to bomb Rangoon, but the Japanese put up almost 70 fighters on CAP, which tore through the 18 LB-30's attacking, shooting down most of them.
• Around 90 Japanese carrier planes attack Nanomea Atoll, doing slight damage, but alerting the Allies to their position. 11xHudson from Funafuti attack, but meet a CAP of 62 planes and only one Hudson makes a bomb run on the BB Hyuga, missing and then having to ditch on the way back.
• Japanese and Allied troops begin exchanging bombardments at Mandalay.
• The Japanese reportedly expand the airfield at Broome to level 5. The Allies expand the port at Perth to level 8 and the airfield at Adak Island to level 5.

Analysis: Seth was quick to point out that the Pearl Harbor raid is celebrated in Japan on December 8th, so next turn he gets to dance around.
His carriers (CV Shokaku, CV Zuikaku and three CVE) show up north of Nanomea Atoll (of course, 5 hexes away and out of SBD range). His air raid sucked, so I'm not sure when the actual invasion will begin. I've been trying to get some troops in there, but it may not be enough. Since he got burned before at an atoll, he's probably coming in with two divisions worth of troops. This time, I don't think I'll be able to hold him off. But I suppose I should just suck it up deal with it.
My troops have arrived at Mandalay. I'll need to give them a chance to settle in, do some bombardments, and then I'll attack.

[floydg]

December 8, 1942

Highlights: Kungchang falls

• The CA Furutaka and CA Kumano return to bombard Nanomea Atoll at night. This time, they do much better, hitting the base's barracks area, causing over 900 casualties.
• Allied PT boats enter the area around Kiska and the PT-159 hits a mine and sinks.
• The Japanese again attack Kungchang with 44 bombers and 84 escorting fighters. The Allies put up a CAP of 26. These Brits down 26 fighters and 2 bombers, losing 15 of their own. The airbase takes minor damage. In the combat, FLT Doyle racked up 9 kills, but his plane is badly damaged and he bails out just as the Japanese are overcoming the base and is captured.
• Under 60 Japanese carrier planes attack Nanomea Atoll. The escorts plow through the CAP, downing almost all 11 planes. Slight damage is done to the airfield.
• Japanese troops attack at Kungchang and completely overwhelm the Chinese, who abandon the base and march to Lanchow.
• Takamatsu expands the port to size 7.

Analysis: Kungchang fell and the troops retreated to Lanchow. The forts there are low and the troops are so fatigued, I think Coach Z will secure Lanchow in short order. Too bad... But I did do a decent job of shooting down his planes over there.
More attacks around Nanomea. I haven't spotted transports yet, so I suspect that this is going to be a few days of softening-up before he comes in. I'm planning a bit of a surprise for him, though.
In the Aleutians, I haven't spotted any of his BB's in a while. It could be a trap, so I'm searching the best I can with about a dozen subs and lots of search planes... Maybe I'll start loading up the invasion force soon.

[floydg]

Here is the situaton in Burma:


A = UK Division coming to help out in the march to Rangoon
Akyab = Tank Brigade, Chindits, Indian Div, Artillery
South of Akyab is a portion of the 11th NLF (the rest is due east of Akyab at "C")
Even further south is 1 unknown unit and at Rangoon are 3 units spotted

B = Chindits, Indian Brigade, Artillery marching south to face off against a Japanese division at "D". I also have a UK division at Imphal marching south to help out.

C = Japanese who retreated from Akyab: 1/3 of the Imperial Guards, a portion of the 11th NLF and an aviation regiment

Mandalay has quite a few units. I have two Tank Brigades, an Indian Division, three inf brigades, caribineers, three artillery and some HQ. Just north is a 166 AV Chinese unit ready to pile on. He has about 900 AV and I current have 1200 AV. He has probably 300 planes based there (100+ fighters, <100 bombers, 100+ aux). It's a level 5 airfield, so I'm hoping he's paying a penalty for overstacking there.

Out towards Lashio are his units defeated at Myitkyina. I plan to just let Lashio "die on the vine", since when I take Mandalay, those troops will make a bee-line for Rangoon and the way to Malaya.

Hopefully, things collapse for him in this area by February.