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Great idea HansB!

ORIGINAL: IdahoNYer

- Should I evacuate Ndeni? I am still debating: Why yes: I have no chance against a determined attempt to recapture it once KB arrives Why not: The Raiders and Paras are scheduled to leave anyway... letting them die defending Ndeni will have little consequence in the longer term

I'd leave at least one there - see what his reaction would be. I'd also place an AVD/AVP and some PBYs to extend range. As you said, no chance against a determined attempt to recapture - but I'd rather have that determined attack be at Ndeni than perhaps Noumea or Moresby. Gives him more problems/decisions to solve.

I think you are right; I will keep Ndeni as a PBY base with AVDs; I still have two big AVs (Tangiers and Curtis) very close at Vanua Lava supporting the invasion, but these are premium ships and therefore should be parked somewhere safer.

I will keep some APDs close in case I need to do a fast Raider evacuation ; the Paras can be withdrawn with the many Catalinas that are going to remain in the area.

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

A few posts back you mentioned having a Marine Para aboard 6 APDs.
Try adding an AVD or 2 to your FT TFs. The APDs have very little cargo capacity and their lift capacity is likely filled with troops.
The AVDs add 170 cargo capacity with no troop capacity so they will deliver the full 170 capacity in supply.
This helps get a bit more supply ashore with the troops in the initial lift.
The AVDs are the same speed and approx. endurance of the APDs and thus make for a perfect team.

Thanks, I did something similar in Amchitka, although at the end I end mixing everything into a big 25 ship invasion fleet.
I found that AVDs will not lift "troop cargo" when in a amphibious TF; what I ended doing was to "load tender" to fill it with supplies, and the add it to the TF

The Paras were a 2nd wave assault. There were already supplies at Ndeni (1st wave included an AP), so no need in that particular scenario. Besides, I had most available AV types working as PBY bases
Still very valid strategy

Something interesting I just noticed:
- He is withdrawing the Imperial guards from Colombo; likely to consolidate for a proper assault into Trincomalee. Piece meal efforts, like those in Java [:D], are not giving him good results!



Tomorrow I will use all warships available at Cochin and Colombo to bombard the Guards!! [:D]

ORIGINAL: Jorge_Stanbury

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

A few posts back you mentioned having a Marine Para aboard 6 APDs.
Try adding an AVD or 2 to your FT TFs. The APDs have very little cargo capacity and their lift capacity is likely filled with troops.
The AVDs add 170 cargo capacity with no troop capacity so they will deliver the full 170 capacity in supply.
This helps get a bit more supply ashore with the troops in the initial lift.
The AVDs are the same speed and approx. endurance of the APDs and thus make for a perfect team.

Thanks, I did something similar in Amchitka, although at the end I end mixing everything into a big 25 ship invasion fleet.
I found that AVDs will not lift "troop cargo" when in a amphibious TF; what I ended doing was to "load tender" to fill it with supplies, and the add it to the TF

The Paras were a 2nd wave assault. There were already supplies at Ndeni (1st wave included an AP), so no need in that particular scenario. Besides, I had most available AV types working as PBY bases
Still very valid strategy

Understand the need to prioritize seaplane support. I tend to use the AVs, AVPs and slower (18 knot) AVDs for that function and reserve the fast (27 knot) AVDs for FT TFs.

Amchitka was captured with very little effort in the 1st try, even with it's level 2 fort. I ended doing a 3rd naval bombing; which might had been unnecessary, but since I suspect he used long range patrol boats to withdraw some troops from Ndeni, I wanted to maximize damage in case he tried it again.

Anyway, I got the message I was looking for: "25th Ind Engineer Regiment Wiped Out at Amchitka Island by attrition!!!"

What is next?
All troops involved will remain there; I will also send a Base Force to help rebuilding and to enable the use of the captured L2 airbase.
Battleships and support vessels will refuel/ rearm and then go back to PH.
Cruisers/ destroyers due to upgrade next month will go instead to Bremerton, this way PH is less congested
Transports are heading to San Francisco

Although Japan is now kicked out of the Aleutians, I will continue with the building up process. I want to build serious fort levels on Amchitka, Adak, Umnak and Dutch Harbor. I also want to maximize Dutch Harbor's port level and Umnak's airbase.
Adak and Amchitka will build to level 3 airbase, then stop to prioritize fort until they reach level 5 or 6.. then back to airbase until they are at max

Combat report:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Amchitka Island (158,52)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 5071 troops, 71 guns, 79 vehicles, Assault Value = 155

Defending force 354 troops, 0 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 1

Allied adjusted assault: 69

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 69 to 1 (fort level 2)

Allied forces CAPTURE Amchitka Island !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
212 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 19 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 7 (7 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Assaulting units:
138th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
102nd Cmbt Engineer Regiment
151st Cmbt Engineer Battalion
168th Field Artillery Battalion

Defending units:
25th Ind Engineer Regiment

Other turn's highlights:

- Bombing of Colombo's siege forces was successful; I will try it again tomorrow... We will see for how long sustained bombing can hold.
I bet there is a big surface TF being formed in Singapore to get some vengeance!! maybe carriers??

As long as Trincomalee holds, the RN will be close punishing the invader as much as they can




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Colombo at 29,48

Allied Ships
CL Glasgow
DD Norman

Japanese ground losses:
166 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 10 (1 destroyed, 9 disabled)

Walrus II acting as spotter for CL Glasgow
CL Glasgow firing at Imperial Guards Division
DD Norman firing at 3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Colombo at 29,48

Allied Ships
CA Dorsetshire
CL Emerald
CL Enterprise
DD Isis
DD Hotspur
DD Griffin
DD Fortune
DD Encounter
DD Decoy
DD Tjerk Hiddes
DD Nizam
DD Napier
DD Nestor

Japanese ground losses:
427 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 15 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 26 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

CA Dorsetshire firing at Imperial Guards Division
CL Emerald firing at Imperial Guards Division
Walrus II acting as spotter for CL Enterprise
CL Enterprise firing at 56th Field Artillery Regiment
DD Isis firing at Imperial Guards Division
DD Hotspur firing at Imperial Guards Division
DD Griffin firing at Imperial Guards Division
DD Fortune firing at Imperial Guards Division
DD Encounter firing at Imperial Guards Division
DD Decoy firing at 8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
DD Tjerk Hiddes firing at Imperial Guards Division
DD Nizam firing at Imperial Guards Division
DD Napier firing at Imperial Guards Division
DD Nestor firing at Imperial Guards Division


And these are the opposing forces at Colombo:
Ground combat at Colombo (29,48)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 10680 troops, 79 guns, 45 vehicles, Assault Value = 182

Defending force 13835 troops, 225 guns, 110 vehicles, Assault Value = 396

Allied ground losses:
31 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Assaulting units:
Colombo Fortress
100th Indian Brigade
6/15th Punjab Battalion
Ceylon Command
Ceylon Base Force

Defending units:
Imperial Guards Division
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
56th Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
16th AA Regiment

Level 4 forts should be sufficient for Amchitka in March 42 with the Amphib bonus about to expire. There is no strategic reason for him to commit resources to take it back, although he could harass with aerial and naval bombardment. (I assume he has Attu?). Level 4 forts will greatly reduce casualties from occasional attacks.
You will need a level 4 or 5 airfield for multi-engine bombers more than you need the forts.

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Level 4 forts should be sufficient for Amchitka in March 42 with the Amphib bonus about to expire. There is no strategic reason for him to commit resources to take it back, although he could harass with aerial and naval bombardment. (I assume he has Attu?). Level 4 forts will greatly reduce casualties from occasional attacks.
You will need a level 4 or 5 airfield for multi-engine bombers more than you need the forts.

Good to know, then once L4 is reached, I will move to airfield. I will also built port, but just a little bit; L1 is a pain for unloading

And no, Attu was never captured; it is pretty much at the same level as it was on Dec 7th, 1941

Tonights crazy idea:

I will naval bombard Tulagi



Rationale:
- He might believe this is a real invasion; he has lost contact with my carriers; he might think raiders are coming next turn
- TF is not spotted; so it has a good chance of getting in and out
- Closest LBA base is Rabaul... which is far away
- Bombing it will delay a bit any building he is doing there

Risks:
- Main one is "discovering" KB
- Superior enemy SAC TFs
- LBAs

9 days left and KB is nowhere to be seen [:)]

Mar 22th was a good turn; other than one slow xAP sunk by I-10 (carrying a Marine defense [:(] bat), everything went well

Bombardments: Tulagi

Tulagi was a complete surprise and highly successful [;)] I manage to destroy or damage many FPs, Rec and DBs. I don't understand why he has Vals in Tulagi, a level 1 base. Maybe it was close to become L2 ??

Anyway, that won't happen until he repairs the damage!

Night Naval bombardment of Tulagi at 114,137

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
E13A1 Jake: 2 damaged
D3A1 Val: 2 damaged
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-15-II Babs: 3 damaged

Allied Ships
CA Exeter
CA Salt Lake City
CL Phoenix
DD Van Ghent
DD Voyager
DD Cassin
DD Ellet
DD Benham
DD Craven
DD Patterson
DD Ralph Talbot
DD Mugford
DD Russell
DMS Wasmuth

Japanese ground losses:
82 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 8
Runway hits 35
Port hits 8
Port supply hits 2

Walrus II acting as spotter for CA Exeter

Bombardments: Colombo

2nd night of hell for the most despicable "Imperial Grds Div"

Night Naval bombardment of Colombo at 29,48

Allied Ships
CA Dorsetshire
CL Glasgow
CL Emerald
CL Enterprise
CL Hobart
DD Isis
DD Hotspur
DD Griffin
DD Fortune
DD Encounter
DD Decoy
DD Tjerk Hiddes
DD Norman
DD Nizam
DD Napier
DD Nestor

Japanese ground losses:
571 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 45 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 25 (1 destroyed, 24 disabled)
Vehicles lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)

Walrus II acting as spotter for CA Dorsetshire


Tomorrow 2 "R" class Battleships running at full speed might join the party [:D]
They need to rush because regrettably, the party might end very soon.
As you can see Trincomalee is getting close to the end. Once this happens, then LBAs will spoil the fun



Ground combat at Trincomalee (31,47)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 13937 troops, 135 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 406

Defending force 9055 troops, 70 guns, 45 vehicles, Assault Value = 87

Japanese adjusted assault: 294

Allied adjusted defense: 167

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0

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

Japanese ground losses:
244 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 22 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Allied ground losses:
133 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 16 (2 destroyed, 14 disabled)

Assaulting units:
2nd Division
41st JAAF AF Bn

Defending units:
Trincomalee Fortress
99th Indian Brigade

In DEI:
Recently re-captured Tarakan built forts to level 1. It also refueled the first 4 submarines, I have all submarines in the vicinity moving to there to refuel so to avoid the long trip back.He noticed this already as a TF of Japanese PBs is now guarding it

Java: another attempt to seize Bandoeng ended in a Japanese bloodbath: 4,500 casualties; this very similar to the losses suffered 3 turns ago (3,500) [:D]
Afterwards, I could see enemy troops moving out in direction NE!!
I am surprises he didn't focus first on seizing either Soerabaja or Batavia... but of course I am not complaining [:D]

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

Ground combat at Bandoeng (50,100)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 54337 troops, 481 guns, 185 vehicles, Assault Value = 1548

Defending force 11573 troops, 137 guns, 66 vehicles, Assault Value = 281

Japanese adjusted assault: 533

Allied adjusted defense: 640

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 2)

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

Japanese ground losses:
4518 casualties reported
Squads: 69 destroyed, 160 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 18 disabled
Engineers: 6 destroyed, 20 disabled
Guns lost 33 (8 destroyed, 25 disabled)
Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
459 casualties reported
Squads: 33 destroyed, 26 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 41 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 23 (6 destroyed, 17 disabled)

Assaulting units:
10th Division
21st Division
14th Division
146th Infantry Regiment
33rd Division
17th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
5th Ind.Hvy.Art Bn /3

Defending units:
XV KNIL Battalion
IX KNIL Battalion
Tjilitjap Cdo
4th KNIL Regiment
IV KNIL Battalion
Mobiele Battalion
II Marechausse Cdo
HQ II KNIL Division
Andir ML Base Force
VkA-3 Sup Afd
6th Cav Sqdn
VkA-1 Sup Afd
VLG-IV Sup Groep
VkA-4 Sup Afd

And this is a map of India. Notice Japanese advances to Bezwada (west of Vizagapatnam)

I think he is expecting no resistance. Instead he will find 2 good Australian AIF brigades (16th and 17th) guarding a river crossing [;)]
These 2 brigades are the ones recently evacuated from Colombo (part of the 6th division, veterans of North Africa, Greece and Crete), initially they were going to Madras, but once I saw the Japanese advance, I moved them to ambush!

I setup a bombing mission to have an idea of what is coming; I think he is spread too thin and these 2 LCUs should be armor or cavalry only.

Early in the game the 2-pounder A/T gun is scarce and a lot of units do not have their complement of them. Are your AIF Bdes well equipped to stop tanks? If you have any dedicated A/T units move them in front of whatever tank concentrations he has. I think Australia has several such units and some are unrestricted. It doesn't look like they will be needed in Oz.

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Early in the game the 2-pounder A/T gun is scarce and a lot of units do not have their complement of them. Are your AIF Bdes well equipped to stop tanks? If you have any dedicated A/T units move them in front of whatever tank concentrations he has. I think Australia has several such units and some are unrestricted. It doesn't look like they will be needed in Oz.

24 guns each brigade, for a total complement of 48 2-pdr AT guns at Bezwada. So should work; I don't have anything else capable of reaching Bezwada before the Japanese. Moreover, only tomorrow I will now for sure the enemy's composition

I hope you are right regarding Oz... I think a full invasion on the East is becoming less feasible day after day, in the other hand, the north and the west can be easily invaded, even without the amphibious bonus... there are simply too many beaches


Motorized support is still at Cochin; it came in the 2nd wave of evacuation

Update on India:

I setup 2 bombing missions to get recon on the enemy's advance to Bezwada and Benares... It seems my Australian brigades will meet one full division, the 48th + 2 additional LCUs, likely tank and artillery

Tomorrow I will have a proper recon squadron flying over my friends near Bezwada. The Australian, by the way, built it to level 1.11 fort... I know it is not much but the river crossing should help too

Let's take a look at the troops that stormed Calcutta weeks ago:
48th Division
18th Division
Imperial Guards Division
2nd Division
5th Division
16th Division
Southern Army
25th Army
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
5th Mortar Battalion


48th ID is near Bezwada
5th ID near Benares
Imperial Grds ID at Colombo
2nd ID at Trincomalee

Of the 6 IDs that assaulted Calcutta, only the 16th and 18th IDs are unaccounted. These 2 are likely providing garrison.

I have subs patrolling the Malacca strait and Calcutta waters and they haven't seen any big convoy arriving there. I strongly believe there is only 4 divisions in India and 2 in Colombo


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 48th Division, at 39,37 , near Bezwada

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 39 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 11

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
43 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x Blenheim IV bombing from 6000 feet *
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 5th Division, at 53,28 , near Benares

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 24 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 11
Hudson I x 7

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
77 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Hudson I bombing from 6000 feet *
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 lb GP Bomb
11 x Blenheim IV bombing from 6000 feet *
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 lb GP Bomb

ORIGINAL: Jorge_Stanbury

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Early in the game the 2-pounder A/T gun is scarce and a lot of units do not have their complement of them. Are your AIF Bdes well equipped to stop tanks? If you have any dedicated A/T units move them in front of whatever tank concentrations he has. I think Australia has several such units and some are unrestricted. It doesn't look like they will be needed in Oz.

24 guns each brigade, for a total complement of 48 2-pdr AT guns at Bezwada. So should work; I don't have anything else capable of reaching Bezwada before the Japanese. Moreover, only tomorrow I will now for sure the enemy's composition

I hope you are right regarding Oz... I think a full invasion on the East is becoming less feasible day after day, in the other hand, the north and the west can be easily invaded, even without the amphibious bonus... there are simply too many beaches


Motorized support is still at Cochin; it came in the 2nd wave of evacuation

Good to have those A/T guns, but you gotta put a good commander in charge immediately before the IJA assault! 39 land skill sucks!

As for North and Northwest Oz, I say let the IJA waste its time taking those - they are worth nearly nothing, are not built enough to be really useful, and should be far enough from your biggest cities to preclude strategic bombing from there. And if he does not withdraw the troops before you get control of the sea and air, you can isolate them all by taking back a few of the coastal bases and cutting their supply.
Some argue that a North Oz strategy pushes back any move on the DEI, but I think the loss of IJ troops there more than offsets the delay it causes the Allies.

Thanks!! I don't know how I didn't notice this before; but it is now fixed; I changed several commanders

And I fully agree on W and N Australia. I would like to keep Perth, but I won't be worried if he grabs it and my challenge with Darwin is supply; he already sunk a convoy there with SAC TFs, so I need to sneak and hope for the best anytime I want to resupply.

A very interesting turn, KB is still MIA, and no sign yet of a Japanese invasion; good news as I am counting the days until the end of the Amph bonus (8 more tutns)

Lots of action close to Ceylon; the turn started with I-27 sinking xAP Dunera. This transport was empty, and it was moving from Colombo to Cochin as I decided not to evacuate any more troops.

Then another couple submarine action; but this time the hunter became the hunted; RO-62 was sunk by USN APDs! while RO-64 got two near misses:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Vanua Lava at 121,148

Japanese Ships
SS RO-62, hits 7, heavy damage

Allied Ships
APD King

SS RO-62 is sighted by escort
RO-62 bottoming out ....
APD King fails to find sub, continues to search...
APD King fails to find sub, continues to search...
APD King fails to find sub, continues to search...
APD King attacking submerged sub ....
Large oil slick appears over area of attack!
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Port Moresby at 98,130

Japanese Ships
SS RO-34, hits 2

Allied Ships
APD Whipple

SS RO-34 is sighted by escort
APD Whipple attacking submerged sub ....
APD Whipple fails to find sub, continues to search...
APD Whipple attacking submerged sub ....
APD Whipple fails to find sub, continues to search...
APD Whipple fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

Then, the Imperial Guards got their daily dose of naval bombing:
Cruiser/ DD TF first, as they were already at Colombo, followed by a day bombing by Battleships hurried to the action.
Results were good:

Night Naval bombardment of Colombo at 29,48

Allied Ships
CA Dorsetshire
CL Glasgow
CL Emerald
CL Enterprise
CL Hobart
DD Isis
DD Hotspur
DD Griffin
DD Fortune
DD Encounter
DD Decoy
DD Tjerk Hiddes
DD Norman
DD Nizam
DD Napier
DD Nestor

Japanese ground losses:
673 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 30 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 46 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 30 (10 destroyed, 20 disabled)

Naval bombardment of Colombo at 29,48

Allied Ships
BB Royal Sovereign
BB Revenge
DD Vendetta
DD Vampire
DD Pillsbury
DD Stewart
DE Starling

Japanese ground losses:
497 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 21 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 23 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

I have setup another naval bombing mission for tomorrow; I will keep doing this until they leave or Japan brings the KB, whatever happens first!!