Tale of the Sheep! - JocMeister (A) vs. Lowpe (J)

[JocMeister]

I havn´t given up on updating but I simply don´t have time for it during weekdays. Day off on Thursday so hopefully I can get you guys up to speed. To sum it up its going to plan. I´m overextended like crazy though so I have had to scale down on some things temporarily. KB went to Truk and then disappeared so I have to be careful.

Forgot that all B29s comes with NavB and LowN pilots. And 20-30 air skill leaders. Splendid...[8|]

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

I havn´t given up on updating but I simply don´t have time for it during weekdays. Day off on Thursday so hopefully I can get you guys up to speed. To sum it up its going to plan. I´m overextended like crazy though so I have had to scale down on some things temporarily. KB went to Truk and then disappeared so I have to be careful.

Forgot that all B29s comes with NavB and LowN pilots. And 20-30 air skill leaders. Splendid...[8|]

Splendid for transferring those NavB trained guys into, say, B-24s and dropping bombs on the IJN from 2K feet [;)].

We have a phrase in English: don't look a gift horse in the mouth. After all, you could very well have just received green pilots!

[Barb]

Would be more proper to send them to some A-24/A-36/A-20G/A-26/B-25G-J outfit

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: Barb

Would be more proper to send them to some A-24/A-36/A-20G/A-26/B-25G-J outfit

Actually, I don't think so - as they don't actually have any LowN skill to speak of, nor strafe.

As far as I can tell, attack bombers actually use the Strafe skill as they drop to 100 feet to drop ordnance. If you get them to drop from 1000 feet, then use they would use LowN.

Hence - B-24s at 2K feet, do it!

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]October 6th -43[/font]
_____________________________________________________________________________

Lots of action all around. Lets start with SOPAC. Heavy fighting around Rabaul. Jeff is actually trying to reinforce with the 16th division which was a surprise. Havn´t checked but I´m pretty certain it was one of the destroyed division in the WC invasion. So probably not full strength and overall pretty weak.

We are making good progress without having reinforced. Jeff have been really lucky with the dice here. 3rd attack was the first to drop the forts.

Ground combat at Rabaul (106,125)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 27289 troops, 508 guns, 390 vehicles, Assault Value = 831

Defending force 20621 troops, 244 guns, 13 vehicles, Assault Value = 403

Allied adjusted assault: 727

Japanese adjusted defense: 681

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 3)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
742 casualties reported
Squads: 33 destroyed, 63 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 46 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
593 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 87 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 13 (1 destroyed, 12 disabled)
Vehicles lost 21 (2 destroyed, 19 disabled)

Jeff has dropped a load of mines here and I have 2 CLs, 1 CA and 6 DDs needing yard time after mine hits here. [:@] We also had a small tussle with DDs which ended in a draw with 1 DD lost each.

To sum it up I have pretty much lost control over the area right now. This wasn´t planned but when I saw KB heading to Truk I had to take the opportunity...

Pre-Invasion action off Darwin (76,124)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

36 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
CL Marblehead
CL Trenton
CL Concord
APA Elmore

Japanese ground losses:
195 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
35 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Taking back Darwin without a fight is well worth a 2 week delay at Rabaul. [&o] Plan now is simple. Fleet will head back to Port Morseby, pick up the 27th ID and the Australian tanks and drop them at Rabaul. That should sort that out. Minesweepers are moving up from Noumea to help clear the mines. I´ll continue to sweep Rabaul with destroyers for now. Can´t afford to lose more CAs/CLs to yard time right now. Meanwhile I have 4 divisions prepping for targets in lower DEI currently on ships towards OZ. It will be quite some time before they arrive though.

I´m annoyed with losing so many ships to the mines. Never seen such an effective minefield in AE in all my games.

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]Burma[/font]
_____________________________________________________________________________

I was going to push down and take Rangoon quickly but Jeff surprised me by not giving up on trying to destroy the 2 trapped divisions. He is actually moving out into the jungle to try and cut them off again. Don´t think he he enough to prevent me from taking control of the hex though. He has 3 units there. Probably 2 BDEs and an AA unit. Both BDEs are absolutely trashed. The 2 divisions are in good shape with full supply. So I will probably take control of the hex in the shock attack. If that fails the cavalry will arrive shortly to turn the tables on him. This is what prompted me to change direction. I really want those 2 divisions safely back.

I now have 11 divisions in the Ramree area. 6 of them are out on the plains together with 2 armored BDEs with another 3 moving towards the plains. 1st Marines are waiting for their AT guns to upgrade in 2 turns before moving out as well.

11th African division just landed at Ramree. Sadly they lost about half their motorized support in a Betty strike while moving for Ramree. The TF had a collision which slowed them down so they didn´t get under the Akyab CAP in time. [:(] No biggie though as they are slated for Ramree defense anyway. 14th Indian is also at Ramree waiting for their motorized support. Same goes for Provisional Tank BDE. Once their support land they will move up with the 1st Marines and push south.

We are catching up on things here. Only 39th Indian division left to move to Ramree once the 1st Marines and 14th Indian moves out. 6th US division is also on their way to Aden from the WC but it will be quite some time until they are ready.

Plan is simple. Clear out central Burma and push towards Lashio cutting off all Japanese troops in Northern Burma.

Looking at the map you can see the 2 cut off divisions moving to cross the river. Jeff already had a small BDE there which was absolutely trashed crossing into the hex from the NW. Another BDE moved in from E. This unit was also trashed by 4Es before shifting hex. Amazingly Jeff continues to move troops in the open to try and reinforce. Its not pretty and he is losing 500-1000 troops per day to 4E attacks in the clear hex. These troops will be in no shape to fight.

Afternoon Air attack on 3rd Tank/A Division, at 60,44 , near Shwebo

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Allied aircraft
Liberator II x 10
B-17E Fortress x 4
B-17F Fortress x 5
B-24D Liberator x 20
B-24D1 Liberator x 22
B-25C Mitchell x 9
B-25H Mitchell x 4

Allied aircraft losses
Liberator II: 2 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 5 damaged
B-24D1 Liberator: 5 damaged
B-25C Mitchell: 1 damaged
B-25H Mitchell: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
505 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 20 destroyed, 41 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 19 (6 destroyed, 13 disabled)
Vehicles lost 26 (3 destroyed, 23 disabled)

Also attacking 60th Field AA Battalion ...
Also attacking 5th RF Gun Battalion ...
Also attacking 55th Const Co ...
Also attacking 3rd Tank/A Division ...
Also attacking 55th Const Co ..

Things are progressing as planned. I´m confident in the overall success although worried about the 2 cut off divisions. I didn´t expect them to get so much attention and I was sure Jeff would give up on them after I opened the hex.

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]NORPAC[/font]
_____________________________________________________________________________

Progressing as planned here. We are short on troops though so its slow progress. We will get there eventually though. Keep in mind this is not a prioritized area. We just want to keep him earnest up here. The big push will come further to the West but I need the full fleet for that. So probably spring of -44.

Since Kodiak was slow going I decided to land at Seward as well as securing some bases south of Kodiak. They will soon be operational which will free up the CVEs for other duties. P38s will take over LRCAP duties. I need the CVEs for something else.

Slow progress but progress nonetheless.

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]SOPAC[/font]
_____________________________________________________________________________

With Darwin secured the allied pull back to reorganize. Everything is a bit in disarray after the ad hoc invasion of Darwin. It will take a week or two to get everything in order.

Actually not sure I really need to reinforce Rabaul. Artillery is slowly but surely grinding the defenders down.

Ground combat at Rabaul (106,125)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 2385 troops, 175 guns, 101 vehicles, Assault Value = 829

Defending force 26141 troops, 292 guns, 14 vehicles, Assault Value = 650

Japanese ground losses:
95 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

I´ll probably just drop off the armor and keep the 27th in reserve for now.

Jeff has dropped out a crap load of mines at Rabaul that I need to clear out. Minesweepers are being moved up for that but I´m not really sure how to go about it. If I send them in alone Jeff will just sink them with his prowling DDs. And if I send in SCTFs to protect them the will probably hit more mines...

Already lost 1 DD outright and 6 to the yards so far. Also have 3 CAs that need to go to Pearl and repair mine damage. [:@]

Suggestions on how to clear the mines are welcome.

[Lokasenna]

Well once you've detected them like that... you shouldn't run into them much anymore.

As for newly-laid mines that you don't know about, the standard "include DMS/AM in your TFs" advice applies.

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

Well once you've detected them like that... you shouldn't run into them much anymore.

As for newly-laid mines that you don't know about, the standard "include DMS/AM in your TFs" advice applies.

I have a couple of DMS in the area. How many would you use for a SCTF? Just 1 for detection or?

Not really used to these huge minefields.

[BBfanboy]

2 DMS in an Amphib TF do a pretty good job of sweeping a path ahead of the transports.
As for the prowling IJN DDs, there is nothing that says you have to wait for them to reach the target hex. If their route of approach is well known, put your SCTF one hex from Rabaul, with react 1, and put night search up.

[Lokasenna]

I would use at least 1 DMS in SCTF/BBTF if you can. 2 would be better, but even 1 is a boon.

For amphibs, you can use any decent AMs that you have. The amphibs don't need the 30-knot speed of the DMS hulls.

Also concur with BBF about prowling IJN DDs. If they're a problem, set up night search and a countering SCTF with a 1-hex reaction range to protect whatever you're protecting.

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58
This has in no way been my experience with B-29s playing Lokasenna. They do very well against night CAP. They are faster and have better gun ratings than B-24s.

Not sure if something has been changed since my game with Erik?

I was losing about 30-50 B29 per raid (night attacks) attacking the HI from the Marianas. About 50 NFs on CAP. Granted it was at extended range but once I could rebase to the Philippines it didn´t seem to change much. The one daylight raid I tried was even worse. Ran into a 18 Plane Zero cap over Sumatra which shot down almost 30 B29s. In one attack. This was the 29-1 version.

It somewhere in my old AAR including the tests I ran. In my testing even Nates shot down B29s.

I don't know if I saw that sort of losses in my last campaign but I know what you are saying. I never used them without escort or sweeps. I did not ever try them at very high altitude though.

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

[font="Verdana"]SOPAC[/font]
_____________________________________________________________________________

With Darwin secured the allied pull back to reorganize. Everything is a bit in disarray after the ad hoc invasion of Darwin. It will take a week or two to get everything in order.

Actually not sure I really need to reinforce Rabaul. Artillery is slowly but surely grinding the defenders down.

Ground combat at Rabaul (106,125)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 2385 troops, 175 guns, 101 vehicles, Assault Value = 829

Defending force 26141 troops, 292 guns, 14 vehicles, Assault Value = 650

Japanese ground losses:
95 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

I´ll probably just drop off the armor and keep the 27th in reserve for now.

Jeff has dropped out a crap load of mines at Rabaul that I need to clear out. Minesweepers are being moved up for that but I´m not really sure how to go about it. If I send them in alone Jeff will just sink them with his prowling DDs. And if I send in SCTFs to protect them the will probably hit more mines...

Already lost 1 DD outright and 6 to the yards so far. Also have 3 CAs that need to go to Pearl and repair mine damage. [:@]

Suggestions on how to clear the mines are welcome.

I just combine DMS with my surface TF and send them in. Occasionally you might hit a mine but it is so rare. Once a minefield gets known they never seem to hit a Bombardment TF. Just put a DMS and send in the bombardment force. The DMS will clear mines and you get a bombardment to boot.

[JocMeister]

Thanks guys. I´ll give a go! [:)]

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]Rabaul[/font]
_____________________________________________________________________________

Well, I guess I really don´t need reinforcements. 16th division is down to 0 AV already. Didn´t think they would crumble so fast. But I guess they were really low EXP after being rebuilt.

Due to the mines at Rabaul I didn´t even bombard before this attack. Notice the HQ bonus on adjusted allied AV. [:)]

Ground combat at Rabaul (106,125)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 27492 troops, 507 guns, 389 vehicles, Assault Value = 840

Defending force 26837 troops, 322 guns, 19 vehicles, Assault Value = 673

Allied adjusted assault: 2056

Japanese adjusted defense: 667

Allied assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 2)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 1 [&o]

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

Japanese ground losses:
1608 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 150 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 24 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled

Allied ground losses:
782 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 125 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Vehicles lost 20 (2 destroyed, 18 disabled)

Assaulting units:
Americal Infantry Division
2nd Marine Division
1st USMC Tank Battalion
205th Field Artillery Battalion
II Australian
2nd Medium Regiment
1st Medium Regiment
134th Field Artillery Battalion
198th Field Artillery Battalion
1st Marine Defense Battalion
South Pacific
147th Field Artillery Battalion
2nd RAA Jungle Regiment

Defending units:
16th Division
14th Garrison Unit
Maizuru 1st SNLF
144th Infantry Regiment
17th Ind.Mixed Brigade
19th Naval Guard Unit
16th Div /2
4th Air Defense AA Regiment
8th Base Force
4th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
15th Base Force
51st Base Force
Yokosuka 5th SNLF /5

[ny59giants]

See what happens with you pair Corp/Army HQs with a Command HQ!! [:D]

[JocMeister]

[font="Verdana"]Burma[/font]
_____________________________________________________________________________

Setback here as I make a mistake. I moved into Magwe but didn´t notice 2 divisions reset their movement. So only 3 of 5 divisions moved hex into Magwe.

Jeff also got a very lucky roll with the dice here. In my version of the replay he only got a 1:1 suffering 8k losses vs Allied 2k. Bummer. [:(]

Its my fault from the beginning though.

1. I shouldn´t have been there in the first place. I wanted a base to fly in supply and rid Jeff of his only major Airfield. Not worth the effort though.
2. My entire air force is currently busy trying to save the 2 stranded divisions. Should have waited for that OP to finish and give airsupport.
3. I should have waited for the reinforcements from Ramree to catch up.
4. I´m stupid. [:'(]

Here is the attack.

Ground combat at Magwe (57,47)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 33973 troops, 537 guns, 998 vehicles, Assault Value = 1416

Defending force 47326 troops, 782 guns, 1306 vehicles, Assault Value = 1780

Japanese adjusted assault: 967

Allied adjusted defense: 456

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: op mode(-), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1207 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 93 disabled
Non Combat: 44 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 22 disabled
Guns lost 23 (1 destroyed, 22 disabled)
Vehicles lost 106 (76 destroyed, 30 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Allied ground losses:
12489 casualties reported
Squads: 338 destroyed, 145 disabled
Non Combat: 522 destroyed, 245 disabled
Engineers: 31 destroyed, 47 disabled
Guns lost 106 (50 destroyed, 56 disabled)
Vehicles lost 426 (303 destroyed, 123 disabled)
Units retreated 7
Units destroyed 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
14th Tank Regiment
3rd Tank/B Division
25th Division
2nd RTA/B Division
2nd Tank Division
1st Tank Division
3rd Tank/C Division
17th JAAF AF Bn
3rd Air Division
35th JAAF AF Bn
21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion
3rd RF Gun Battalion
4th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
25th Air Defense AA Regiment
22nd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
1st JAAF Base Force
34th Field AA Battalion
94th JAAF AF Bn

Defending units:
632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion
254th Armoured Brigade
Gardner's Horse Regiment
18th British Division
637th Tank Destroyer Battalion
255th Armoured Brigade
19th Indian Division
2nd British Division

On my version I got an adjusted AV of 1300.

Anyway, this will set me back 4-6 weeks unless Jeff gets overconfident and goes after me. If he does we might be able to turn the table on him. Judging the intel he is doing the sensible thing though and is staying put.

Now I really need those surrounded Oz divisions...next turn we will know. Damage looked worse than it was. Damage was spread about equally amongst the troops. I will have to retreat back across the river though.

Not a good turn.

[JocMeister]

Ran into a nasty, nasty bug this turn. [:(]

Instead of crossing the river to the hex SW of Katha the troops shock attacked at Katha itself. Anyone ever heard of this?

[JocMeister]

Here is the unit the turn before.