Rumble in the Southwest witpqs-A vs Andav-J 2011-11-29 to 2017-02-08

[witpqs]

1944 October 16

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious or airborne operations at:


There were Allied amphibious or airborne operations at:
Naha
Nago

Imperial Naval Bombardments


Allied Naval Bombardments:
Allied Ships Bombarding Naha
Allied Ships Bombarding Naha
Allied Ships Bombarding Naha
Allied Ships Bombarding Nago


Our subs were really annoyed at the surface navies and ground forces getting all the attention today.

Very large sweeps over Pakhoi. Our boys did OK considering the disadvantage, coming off more or less even. The turn air loss tallies will not show that explicitly because a number of the same model Frank were lost in attacks on Allied ships near Okinawa. There are now more than 200 fighters at Kweilin, the source of the trouble, so it looks like the Empire intends to continue trying to suppress Pakhoi.

The 72nd British Rgt attacks tomorrow at Tandjoengbalai. The tip of the spear has begun arriving at Singora and the rest will arrive tomorrow.

Zombies gone in Indochina! Our boys are the new zombies in Indochina.

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Ground combat at 61,65 (near Pakse)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 13151 troops, 317 guns, 350 vehicles, Assault Value = 453

Defending force 1892 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 28

Allied adjusted assault: 268

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 268 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
2497 casualties reported
Squads: 74 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 109 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units destroyed 1

Allied ground losses:
12 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
11th Airborne Division
754th Tank Battalion
2/11th Armoured Car Regiment
11th PAVO Regiment
31st Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
30th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
27th Indian Field Artillery Battalion
25th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
33rd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
32nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
21st Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
22nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment

Defending units:
17th Ind.Mixed Brigade


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Ground combat at Lang Son (70,56)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 119982 troops, 1456 guns, 1922 vehicles, Assault Value = 3824

Defending force 40934 troops, 454 guns, 284 vehicles, Assault Value = 1197

Allied adjusted assault: 1768

Japanese adjusted defense: 2927

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

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
2112 casualties reported
Squads: 9 destroyed, 179 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 55 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 53 (2 destroyed, 51 disabled)
Vehicles lost 90 (54 destroyed, 36 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
10220 casualties reported
Squads: 175 destroyed, 316 disabled
Non Combat: 49 destroyed, 36 disabled
Engineers: 35 destroyed, 28 disabled
Guns lost 61 (30 destroyed, 31 disabled)
Vehicles lost 111 (78 destroyed, 33 disabled)

Assaulting units:
3rd New Chinese Corps
22nd New Chinese Division
31st Infantry Division
632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion
711th Tank Battalion
640th Tank Destroyer Battalion
5th Australian Division
637th Tank Destroyer Battalion
96th Chinese Division
706th Tank Battalion
1st Australian Division
775th Tank Battalion
36th Chinese Division
671th Tank Destroyer Battalion
I Corps Engr Grp
2/4th Armoured Regiment
192nd Tank Battalion
2/6th Armoured Regiment
8th New Chinese Corps
96th Infantry Division
27th Australian Brigade
22nd Australian Brigade
9th Australian Division
134th (East Ang) Regiment
87th Medium Regiment
1st Medium Regiment
163rd Light AA Regiment
251st Field Artillery Battalion
2/9th Field Regiment
109th Anti Tank Regiment
12th Indian Heavy AA Regiment
2/1st Med Regiment
2nd Medium Regiment
85th Medium Regiment
57th Australian Lt AA Regiment
2/11th Field Regiment
18th SP Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
15th Tank Regiment
59th Infantry Brigade
58th Infantry Regiment
27th Division
37th Division
8th Recon Regiment
34th/A Division
11th Ind. Field Artillery Battalion
2nd Ind. Field Artillery Regiment
1st Mortar Battalion
3rd Mobile AA Battalion
31st Mountain Gun Regiment


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Brains! Brains! Disruption is sky high, as can be expected when zombies are roaming the ranks trying to tear off limbs and eat their fellows' brains. Imperial AV was adjusted by x2.25, while our AV was adjusted by x0.46. If for the sake of simplicity we count only disabled combat and engineer squads, they lost 453 final AV and we lost 158. All other things being equal (they never are) the next battle would still be a 1 to 2, but the ratio would rise from 0.60 this time to 0.65. That's progress but really slow and painful. It seems that our encirclement plan will have time to play out. I doubt that the Empire can stop it except by pulling back. All that means the real battle for Lang Son is at Pakhoi. We need to get the armor in there to support the 2 divisions closing the back door on Lang Son.

We have rotated out the 2 depleted P-47D2 squadrons from Pakhoi to Hanoi for replenishment. The 2 P-47D2 squadrons at Hanoi have been moved into Pakhoi. The 3 P-47D25 squadrons at Haiphong, giving LRCAP to Pakhoi, have been moved from 30,000 ft to 37,000 ft while the 2 P-51B squadrons at Haiphong giving LRCAP to Pakhoi have been moved from 25,000 ft to 37,000 ft. All 5 squadrons have been brought to max (25) planes plus 4 spares. The squadrons at Pakhoi are a little below full strength but must stay that way until either the airfield expands (4 or 5 days) or the damaged planes from the stood down squadrons are fixed and fly out. The squadrons at Pakhoi are (and were) flying at 10,000 ft to provide protection to the convoys. The 5 Thunderbolt I (16-plane) squadrons at Haiphong have been added to the Pakhoi LRCAP at 10,000 ft. A newly upgraded 12-plane Thunderbolt II squadron has also been added to the 10,000 ft LRCAP. If bombers try to follow sweeps tomorrow, they will meet determined resistance.

Hanoi is now just less than 2x 30-day supply needs and therefore cannot provide drop tanks! This is entirely due to the massive over stacking plus combat at Lang Son. More supply is being rushed in from Manado (some was on the way already) and of course lots was continuously being shipped into Cam Ranh Bay and Victoria Point anyhow. A Liberty ship convoy a week or less out of Manado is being sent on to unload directly at Cam Ranh Bay. Several convoys are being dispatched from Guam also. Luckily Haiphong can still provide drop tanks, aiding LRCAP over Pakhoi.

Progress at Mataram, another attack tomorrow.

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Ground combat at Mataram (59,109)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1180 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 49

Defending force 829 troops, 0 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 10

Allied adjusted assault: 18

Japanese adjusted defense: 7

Allied assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 4)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 3

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), leaders(-), preparation(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
121 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 13 disabled
Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
109 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
2/6 Commando Battalion
2nd Fiji Commando Battalion

Defending units:
23rd Ind Engineer Regiment


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Artillery at Soerabaja will begin bombardment tomorrow. The first of three Coy is being dispatched to Denpasar. There are still two TF at Singapore that look to have cruisers in them.

The Empire tried to interfere with our landings on Okinawa, but all troops are ashore. The bombardments were effective but all three at Naha missed the base concentrating on troops instead. That was fine, as the Empire pulled out all but what are probably damaged aircraft. Casualties from shore guns were less than feared but still meaningful, including ground troops and sunk small ships. No mine fields encountered. Of course I don't know, but I chalk that up to timing.

All troops at Naha are in good order, while two divisions at Nago have modest disruption. A good sign that the Force HQ afloat off Naha did it's job. There was none at Nago. The divisions at Naha are slightly short on supply, the need probably artificially high due to the combat of an opposed landing. In any event there are 88,000 tons of supply still to unload, even from LST types. Beaching types, such as LST, are supposed to be able to unload completely in one phase. Not doing so in two phases is proof positive that shore gunfire does eat up ops points. At Nago the units report enough supply, even though they each have about the same volume of supply as the units at Naha. There are over 37,000 tons more supply to unload at Nago. Of course, the stacking percentage at Naha is twice that at Nago. The lonely convoy was not attacked and must make only 2 more hexes to start unloading at Naha.

The bad news for unloading is that at Naha the pool destroyers, operating in surface combat mode for extra protection, reacted toward the IJN cruisers and are not in hex to be easily rotated into unloading convoys to replace ammo-depleted destroyers. I'll have to form new TFs with Meet & Merge orders into each convoy that needs replacements, which I am pretty sure is all of them. That convoy did completely finish unloading and another has a trivial amount of supply to unload and both will head for Guam.

The surface battles!

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Okinoerabushima at 97,66, Range 4,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Takao
CA Myoko
CA Ashigara, Shell hits 7, on fire
DD Kiyoshimo, Shell hits 2
DD Amagiri
DD Sazanami

Allied Ships
CA Salt Lake City
CA Minneapolis, Shell hits 2
CA San Francisco, Shell hits 3, on fire
CA Vincennes, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Tsuyung
DD Paoshan
DD Kunming
DD Mengtze, Shell hits 2

Poor visibility due to Thunderstorms with 0% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms and 0% moonlight: 2,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese radar detects Allied task force at 24,000 yards
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 18,000 yards
Range closes to 12,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 6,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese radar detects Allied task force at 6,000 yards
Range closes to 4,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 4,000 yards
CA Ashigara engages CA Vincennes at 4,000 yards
CA Ashigara engages CA San Francisco at 4,000 yards
CA Ashigara engages CA Minneapolis at 4,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages DD Sazanami at 4,000 yards
DD Mengtze engages DD Amagiri at 4,000 yards
DD Kiyoshimo engages DD Kunming at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
CA Vincennes engages CA Ashigara at 2,000 yards
CA Myoko engages CA San Francisco at 2,000 yards
CA Ashigara engages CA Minneapolis at 2,000 yards
CA Ashigara engages CA Salt Lake City at 2,000 yards
DD Amagiri engages DD Mengtze at 2,000 yards
DD Kunming engages DD Kiyoshimo at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 6,000 yards
CA Ashigara engages CA San Francisco at 6,000 yards
CA San Francisco engages CA Myoko at 6,000 yards
CA Vincennes engages CA Takao at 6,000 yards
DD Sazanami engages DD Kunming at 6,000 yards
DD Mengtze engages DD Sazanami at 6,000 yards
DD Amagiri engages DD Kunming at 6,000 yards
Range increases to 8,000 yards
CA Ashigara engages CA Vincennes at 8,000 yards
CA Myoko engages CA San Francisco at 8,000 yards
CA Vincennes engages CA Takao at 8,000 yards
DD Sazanami engages DD Mengtze at 8,000 yards
DD Kiyoshimo engages DD Mengtze at 8,000 yards
DD Kunming engages DD Kiyoshimo at 8,000 yards
DD Kiyoshimo engages DD Paoshan at 8,000 yards
Task forces break off...


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Night Time Surface Combat, near Okinoerabushima at 97,66, Range 2,000 Yards

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
SOC-1 Seagull: 3 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CL Noshiro
CL Yahagi, Shell hits 1
DD Mutsuki
DD Yuzuki

Allied Ships
CA Minneapolis, on fire
CA Vincennes, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Kunming
DD Mengtze

Low visibility due to Thunderstorms with 0% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms and 0% moonlight: 2,000 yards
Range closes to 28,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 28,000 yards
Range closes to 26,000 yards...
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 24,000 yards
Range closes to 22,000 yards...
Range closes to 20,000 yards...
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
Range closes to 16,000 yards...
Range closes to 14,000 yards...
Range closes to 12,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
Range closes to 5,000 yards...
Range closes to 4,000 yards...
Range closes to 3,000 yards...
Range closes to 2,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 2,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 2,000 yards
CL Yahagi engages CA Vincennes at 2,000 yards
CA Vincennes engages CL Noshiro at 2,000 yards
CL Yahagi engages DD Mengtze at 2,000 yards
CL Yahagi engages DD Kunming at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 3,000 yards
CL Yahagi engages CA Vincennes at 3,000 yards
CA Vincennes sunk by CL Noshiro at 3,000 yards
DD Kunming engages DD Yuzuki at 3,000 yards
DD Mengtze engages DD Mutsuki at 3,000 yards
CL Yahagi engages DD Mengtze at 3,000 yards
CL Noshiro engages CA Minneapolis at 3,000 yards
DD Yuzuki engages DD Kunming at 3,000 yards
Range increases to 5,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages CL Yahagi at 5,000 yards
DD Yuzuki engages DD Mengtze at 5,000 yards
DD Yuzuki engages DD Kunming at 5,000 yards
Range increases to 7,000 yards
CL Yahagi engages CA Minneapolis at 7,000 yards
Allied Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...


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Night Time Surface Combat, near Pakhoi at 72,58, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Hamanami

Allied Ships
AM Conflict
AM Force, Shell hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage

Poor visibility due to Thunderstorms with 0% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms and 0% moonlight: 2,000 yards
Range closes to 28,000 yards...
Range closes to 26,000 yards...
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
Range closes to 22,000 yards...
Range closes to 20,000 yards...
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
Range closes to 16,000 yards...
Range closes to 14,000 yards...
Range closes to 12,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
Range closes to 5,000 yards...
Range closes to 4,000 yards...
Range closes to 3,000 yards...
Range closes to 2,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 2,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 2,000 yards
DD Hamanami engages AM Force at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 3,000 yards
DD Hamanami engages AM Force at 3,000 yards
Range increases to 5,000 yards
DD Hamanami engages AM Force at 5,000 yards
Range closes to 4,000 yards
Range increases to 6,000 yards
Range increases to 8,000 yards
DD Hamanami engages AM Force at 8,000 yards
Task forces break off...


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Day Time Surface Combat, near Naha at 93,66, Range 6,000 Yards

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
E13A1 Jake: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
SOC-1 Seagull: 3 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Kumano, Shell hits 63, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
CL Yura, Shell hits 9, on fire

Allied Ships
CL Montpelier
CL Columbia
CL Biloxi, Shell hits 8, on fire
CL Birmingham, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Bache
DD Bryant
DD Bullard, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Callaghan

Reduced visibility due to Thunderstorms
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms: 6,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
Range closes to 12,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 6,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 6,000 yards
CL Birmingham engages CA Kumano at 6,000 yards
CA Kumano engages CL Biloxi at 6,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards
CA Kumano engages CL Birmingham at 3,000 yards
CL Birmingham sunk by CL Yura at 3,000 yards
CA Kumano engages DD Callaghan at 3,000 yards
Range increases to 4,000 yards
CL Biloxi engages CA Kumano at 4,000 yards
CL Yura engages CL Biloxi at 4,000 yards
CA Kumano engages CL Montpelier at 4,000 yards
CA Kumano engages DD Callaghan at 4,000 yards
CA Kumano engages DD Bryant at 4,000 yards
Range increases to 6,000 yards
CL Biloxi engages CL Yura at 6,000 yards
CA Kumano engages CL Columbia at 6,000 yards
CL Montpelier engages CA Kumano at 6,000 yards
CA Kumano engages DD Callaghan at 6,000 yards
DD Bullard engages CA Kumano at 6,000 yards
Range increases to 8,000 yards
CA Kumano engages CL Biloxi at 8,000 yards
CA Kumano engages CL Columbia at 8,000 yards
CA Kumano engages DD Callaghan at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
CL Biloxi engages CA Kumano at 10,000 yards
CL Columbia engages CA Kumano at 10,000 yards
CA Kumano engages DD Callaghan at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards
CL Yura engages CL Biloxi at 9,000 yards
CA Kumano engages DD Bache at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
CL Biloxi engages CA Kumano at 10,000 yards
CL Columbia engages CA Kumano at 10,000 yards
CL Biloxi engages CA Kumano at 10,000 yards
CA Kumano engages CL Columbia at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
CA Kumano engages CL Biloxi at 7,000 yards
CL Yura engages CL Biloxi at 7,000 yards
CL Montpelier engages CA Kumano at 7,000 yards
CL Columbia engages CA Kumano at 7,000 yards
CA Kumano engages CL Columbia at 7,000 yards
CA Kumano engages DD Callaghan at 7,000 yards
CA Kumano engages DD Bryant at 7,000 yards
Range closes to 5,000 yards
CL Biloxi engages CA Kumano at 5,000 yards
CA Kumano engages CL Columbia at 5,000 yards
CA Kumano engages DD Bullard at 5,000 yards
CA Kumano sunk by DD Bryant at 5,000 yards
CL Biloxi engages CL Yura at 5,000 yards
Range increases to 9,000 yards
CL Yura engages CL Biloxi at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 13,000 yards
CL Yura engages CL Biloxi at 13,000 yards
Range increases to 17,000 yards
CL Yura engages CL Biloxi at 17,000 yards
Range increases to 19,000 yards
CL Yura engages CL Biloxi at 19,000 yards
CL Yura engages DD Bryant at 19,000 yards
Task forces break off...


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Day Time Surface Combat, near Taihoku at 88,63, Range 6,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Yura, Shell hits 24, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CL Miami
DD Ammen
DD Lardner
CL Toungoo, Shell hits 1

Reduced visibility due to Thunderstorms
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms: 7,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
Range closes to 12,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 6,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 6,000 yards
CL Yura engages CL Toungoo at 6,000 yards
CL Yura engages DD Lardner at 6,000 yards
Range closes to 4,000 yards
CL Toungoo engages CL Yura at 4,000 yards
CL Yura engages DD Lardner at 4,000 yards
Hiraoka, Kumeichi orders Japanese TF to disengage
Range increases to 5,000 yards
CL Yura engages CL Toungoo at 5,000 yards
CL Yura engages CL Miami at 5,000 yards
CL Yura engages CL Toungoo at 5,000 yards
CL Yura engages DD Lardner at 5,000 yards
DD Ammen engages CL Yura at 5,000 yards
Range increases to 6,000 yards
CL Toungoo engages CL Yura at 6,000 yards
CL Yura engages CL Toungoo at 6,000 yards
CL Yura engages DD Lardner at 6,000 yards
DD Ammen engages CL Yura at 6,000 yards
CL Yura engages CL Toungoo at 6,000 yards
CL Yura engages DD Lardner at 6,000 yards
Range closes to 5,000 yards
CL Yura engages CL Miami at 5,000 yards
CL Yura engages DD Lardner at 5,000 yards
CL Yura engages DD Ammen at 5,000 yards
Combat ends with last Japanese ship sunk...


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We lost some ships, the Empire lost some ships, but all the transports were protected from warships. And from warplanes - no hits on ships at all! Although I still am certain this will be a long struggle on Okinawa, I am surprised by the enemy AV in place. I expected somewhat more.

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Ground combat at Naha (95,66)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 29891 troops, 255 guns, 35 vehicles, Assault Value = 1008

Defending force 85416 troops, 1255 guns, 1891 vehicles, Assault Value = 2762

Japanese ground losses:
78 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
69 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 6 (5 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 5 (4 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Assaulting units:
34th Ind.Mixed Brigade
35th Division
2nd Tank Regiment
15th Ind.Mixed Regiment
75th Infantry Brigade
Det. 3rd Special Base Force
39th Field AA Machinecannon Company
Nansei Shoto JNAF Base Force
31st JAAF AF Bn
80th Field AA Battalion
100th Ind.Hvy.Art Battalion
32nd Army
79th Field AA Battalion
3rd Medium Mortar Battalion
Okinawa Naval Base Force
81st Field AA Battalion
244th JAAF AF Bn

Defending units:
766th Tank Battalion
XIV Corps Engr Grp
2nd Marine Division
41st Infantry Division
43rd Infantry Division
710th Tank Battalion
193rd Tank Battalion
40th Infantry Division
194th Tank Battalion
25th Infantry Division
716th Tank Battalion
6th Infantry Division
767th Tank Battalion
3rd AmphTrac Engineer Battalion
1st USMC Field Artillery Battalion
2nd USMC Field Artillery Battalion
XIV US Corps
Sixth US Army
1st USMC AA Battalion


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Ground combat at Nago (95,65)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 17162 troops, 122 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 592

Defending force 29787 troops, 462 guns, 432 vehicles, Assault Value = 927

Japanese ground losses:
43 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
9th Ind.Mixed Brigade
30th Recon Regiment
45th Ind.Mixed Brigade
Nakagusuko-wan Fortress
101st AA Regiment
13th Base Force
31st Army
29th Field Construction Battalion
72nd Air Flotilla
102nd AA Regiment
149th JAAF AF Bn

Defending units:
77th Infantry Division
111th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
5th Marine Division
670th Tank Destroyer Battalion
10th USMC Field Artillery Battalion
4th USMC Field Artillery Battalion
11th USMC Field Artillery Battalion
8th AmphTrac Engineer Battalion


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As mentioned earlier we have some armor yet to land at Naha, which will increase our AV there. No attacks now, and maybe not for a while. It would be nice to get PacAO in place on Daito Shoto to lend Command HQ help to the attack. Either way, after Daito Shoto is taken we will be able to move support ships there to rearm a stream of bombardment task forces against Naha.

Indochina.

[witpqs]

Malay Peninsula & Sumatra.

[witpqs]

Java Sea.

[witpqs]

Okinawa.

[witpqs]

Troops at Nago.

[witpqs]

Troops at Naha.

[witpqs]

Today's ship losses. There are a number of heavily damaged small ships off Naha. One APA will likely sink. Three AKA got hit. And of course a number of destroyers and gunfire support craft.

[witpqs]

Today's air losses.

[BBfanboy]

Nice job intercepting those SCTFs. I never expected 8 torp hits in four combats in 1944 though - in my games the leaders seem to know how to dodge them by late 1942 and hits are rare for either side.

Do you get enough P-47 production to make up the losses you are experiencing? Do you think he is finally using his A-team pilots at Pakhoi?

[HansBolter]

That 2700 AV at Naha is going to be a really tough nut to crack.

Sheesh did I read that wrong. The 2700 AV is yours!

Facepalm time.

All is looking sweet at Okinawa.

Lang Son looks like a slugfest.

After an attack like that I tend to bombard for 3-5 days to let fatigue and disruption drop before trying another deliberate attack.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

That 2700 AV at Naha is going to be a really tough nut to crack.

Sheesh did I read that wrong. The 2700 AV is yours!

Facepalm time.

All is looking sweet at Okinawa.

Lang Son looks like a slugfest.

After an attack like that I tend to bombard for 3-5 days to let fatigue and disruption drop before trying another deliberate attack.

I really am a little concerned about picking the right path at Lang Son now. The Allies are also working versus the clock, so breaking/blunting the sword too much would be a major problem. Leaving that many troops in hex will reduce the speed of recovery and of course they are eating more supplies.

It could be as little as 6 days until the two USA divisions from Pakhoi cut the road (supply route!) to Nanning. After that, supply (unless dropped by air) will have to go woods/cross-river/jungle, jungle/jungle, jungle/road/jungle which ought to cut the potential flow. When the divisions move out of Pakhoi they will be attacked from the air to slow them. So if there are big air battles next turn that might take a bite out of Imperial air assets on station in the area and indirectly help out the divisions.

We also could use more sea lift from Haiphong to Pakhoi, and help is closing in. There is an empty convoy with an LST and a bunch of xAPc at Cam Ranh Bay refueling on its way to Haiphong. Another convoy with 10x APD and 3x (potentially 27 knot) xAKL is nearing refueling at Cam Ranh Nay with a port construction Bn aboard for Pakhoi. Both will serve the ferry run between Haiphong and Pakhoi for the foreseeable future. I've been pulling landing craft from the pool at Haiphong every turn but I should have put many back into the pool much sooner so they would cycle through and be available now. I also might take some of the AKL or xAKL on the way to Cam Ranh Bay with supplies up to Haiphong to move troops.

I continue to train the 2EB MB & AB to get newbie pilots up to speed but I can unleash them for the next attack at Lang Son. They would be better used hitting Imperial units in clear terrain (they really get chewed up with high losses against defended targets), but we'll do what we have to.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Nice job intercepting those SCTFs. I never expected 8 torp hits in four combats in 1944 though - in my games the leaders seem to know how to dodge them by late 1942 and hits are rare for either side.

Do you get enough P-47 production to make up the losses you are experiencing? Do you think he is finally using his A-team pilots at Pakhoi?

Here are the USA fighter pools before orders today. I think the P-47D2 pool is at 59 after pulling replacements today. P-47D25 and P-51B are lower too, but this will give you an idea.

The A-team? I think so but it is hard to tell. Certainly A level pilots were on CAP over Naha, Nago, and Amami Oshima. The B-29s are (at 70) one point more durable than the various B-17 marks (at 69), and they by and large are crewed by the best pilots I have. Some current B-24 pilots surpass many B-29 pilots simply because they are working almost every turn (until I harvest them for the B-29 groups). And as you saw the B-29 groups got chewed to pieces. Big pieces chewed up and spit out. So I'm pretty sure that the major Home Island targets now have the BEST Imperial pilots on CAP.

[Crackaces]

At some time could you post the VP ratio at the point of the Okinawa landing?

Although its Oct 1944 and one might feel rushed I find your discipline of focusing where the IJ are not rather than
a focus on VP's to be fruitful .. while you are nibbling and in the case of Southeast Asia taking a big bite .. you
have not exposed the Allies to deadly attrition yet .. while the Empire's supplies continue to dwindle ..

The threat of a Home Island invasion has to have the IJ reorganizing and nothing is coming back from the Philippines nor Formosa

N=1 .. I found in the game I invaded China like you have done that the collapse was sudden due to supply propagation problems
I await the combat reports with (-) supply as a modifier ... once that happens both combat and movement are adversely effected. as well as air operations
the ability to take replacements .. etc etc .. I would think Hong Kong is his only 20K+ supply depot to refill his units?

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Crackaces

At some time could you post the VP ratio at the point of the Okinawa landing?

Although its Oct 1944 and one might feel rushed I find your discipline of focusing where the IJ are not rather than
a focus on VP's to be fruitful .. while you are nibbling and in the case of Southeast Asia taking a big bite .. you
have not exposed the Allies to deadly attrition yet .. while the Empire's supplies continue to dwindle ..

The threat of a Home Island invasion has to have the IJ reorganizing and nothing is coming back from the Philippines nor Formosa

N=1 .. I found in the game I invaded China like you have done that the collapse was sudden due to supply propagation problems
I await the combat reports with (-) supply as a modifier ... once that happens both combat and movement are adversely effected. as well as air operations
the ability to take replacements .. etc etc .. I would think Hong Kong is his only 20K+ supply depot to refill his units?

I assume you mean 20K+ LI+HI since you know I can't see supply on hand.

A geographically limited list:

Code: Select all

            LI    HI
 Hong Kong  80    15
 Canton     41    20
 Nanning    21
 Liuchow    27
 Chungking  14    20
 Wuchow     61
 Hengyang   41
 Changsha  108    42
 Changteh   21
 Hankow     21
 Wuchang    21
 

So there is still plenty of supply generation for the Empire in China and taking away as much of that as possible is a good idea. The list above does not go north to Sian nor east any farther than Hankow/Wuchang.

The current offensive is planned to take Wuchow, Canton, and Hong Kong. That will take a big chunk from them and give most of it to us (combat damage subtracted) and help supply our further offensive.

I forgot to mention: I am pretty sure that troops are being air lifted out of the bases on Hainan Island to Tuyun, but I haven't the luxury of sending bombers to hit the transport base.

BTW, no turn until tomorrow. DAW has other commitments today.

[Rio Bravo]

witpqs-

Whoa, Nellie.

Your map of Okinawa looks awesome!

And, good luck cutting the Japanese supply lines in China.

Best regards,

-Terry

[RangerJoe]

Very nice. He probably thought that he would have more time to bring in units to Okinawa. Actually, this is the island hopping strategy at its finest - you have now isolated Daito Shoto somewhat and can easily bombard and return to a nice CAP.

If those small islands off Kyushu have airfields, are you planning on invading them? If they have no airfields, it could probably too costly to the invaders and a needless risk to the assets needed until sufficient airfields are built.

If the map is accurate and there are no units at Foochow and/or Ningpo, are you planning on invading them when you tackle Formosa? A fast APD force to bring in enough invaders to capture and hold the empty base long enough for a transport convoy to dock with more units while aviation support units are flown in to service fighters could be a nasty surprise, as well as allowing Long San to be enveloped and allowed to wither. Foochow airplanes would aid Formosa and Ningpo based airplanes and PT Boats would hinder shipping out of Shanghi.

If there are no units at Karenko, how about dropping Idiots out of perfectly functioning aircraft? Unload some transports there to send units SW to block the road and NW to block the retreat from Taihoku, supply from there could also aid any landing at Taihoku.

Of course, the commandos landed by submarines for some of those attacks would work nicely as well, capturing the base just before a fast transport taskforce arrives.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Crackaces

At some time could you post the VP ratio at the point of the Okinawa landing?

Although its Oct 1944 and one might feel rushed I find your discipline of focusing where the IJ are not rather than
a focus on VP's to be fruitful .. while you are nibbling and in the case of Southeast Asia taking a big bite .. you
have not exposed the Allies to deadly attrition yet .. while the Empire's supplies continue to dwindle ..

I suspect Honshu maybe tough to invade, as the destroyed troops from Burma/Thailand are spawned there...

But I suspect supplies might be getting to be a problem; and using Okinawa to cut off the Empire into more isolated chunks will prove beneficial.

A tidal wave of victory points will come I suspect. Unfortunately.[;)]

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

Of course, the commandos landed by submarines for some of those attacks would work nicely as well, capturing the base just before a fast transport taskforce arrives.

The crazy thing about commandos (Raider units) in this game is that they cannot travel by sub ... but paratroopers can!
APDs are the best thing to move Raiders.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

Very nice. He probably thought that he would have more time to bring in units to Okinawa. Actually, this is the island hopping strategy at its finest - you have now isolated Daito Shoto somewhat and can easily bombard and return to a nice CAP.

If those small islands off Kyushu have airfields, are you planning on invading them? If they have no airfields, it could probably too costly to the invaders and a needless risk to the assets needed until sufficient airfields are built.

If you are talking about the 5 small islands SW Kyushu between Kyushu and the Okinawa area, then the only airfield is the one you see with aircraft shown there. I have it under recon because it has an airfield. As far as invading them, probably/possibly, but I have not begun preparing for that. Need to look at that pretty quickly to get preparation underway. I have some regiments and many supporting combat units (arty, armor) that can prepare for them.

If the map is accurate and there are no units at Foochow and/or Ningpo, are you planning on invading them when you tackle Formosa? A fast APD force to bring in enough invaders to capture and hold the empty base long enough for a transport convoy to dock with more units while aviation support units are flown in to service fighters could be a nasty surprise, as well as allowing Long San to be enveloped and allowed to wither. Foochow airplanes would aid Formosa and Ningpo based airplanes and PT Boats would hinder shipping out of Shanghi.

If there are no units at Karenko, how about dropping Idiots out of perfectly functioning aircraft? Unload some transports there to send units SW to block the road and NW to block the retreat from Taihoku, supply from there could also aid any landing at Taihoku.

Of course, the commandos landed by submarines for some of those attacks would work nicely as well, capturing the base just before a fast transport taskforce arrives.

The map display of the three bases you ask about (and many others) is just vacant because I have no recon of them. Owing to the sea distances involved the Okinawa operation will take a while (always longer than you want!), and then Formosa, so the Empire will have lots of time to move things around on land. Of course once we get Okinawa part of its use to is make Imperial sea movement a much bigger problem.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: Crackaces

At some time could you post the VP ratio at the point of the Okinawa landing?

Although its Oct 1944 and one might feel rushed I find your discipline of focusing where the IJ are not rather than
a focus on VP's to be fruitful .. while you are nibbling and in the case of Southeast Asia taking a big bite .. you
have not exposed the Allies to deadly attrition yet .. while the Empire's supplies continue to dwindle ..

I suspect Honshu maybe tough to invade, as the destroyed troops from Burma/Thailand are spawned there...

But I suspect supplies might be getting to be a problem; and using Okinawa to cut off the Empire into more isolated chunks will prove beneficial.

A tidal wave of victory points will come I suspect. Unfortunately.[;)]

[:D]