Climb Mt. Niitaka - Xargun vs Mr Kane

[Xargun]

ORIGINAL: Aurorus

Only Manchurian units count for the garrison. You are safe buying out at least one more division, which should only drop the garrison 450 points or so. You will eventually want to buy out most of the armor, however, so keep this in mind before dropping the garrison too low. There are some other units there which are very helpful in other theaters. Notice the electrical engineer unit, for example,... very high anti-armor rating and very small load cost. Helpful for defending against armor on islands with small stacking limits. So plan further withdrawals carefully.

Ok. I have bought most of the armor out of Manchuria - most of its in China right now.. some in Burma. I will look for a division in Japan to buy out right now. And maybe buy some air groups - even though they are in training mode. Will make it easier to move them when I need them.

Also, how many PPs should I save for 'buying' out destroyed units later in the game? I notice all destroyed units come back restricted even if they were not before.

[Xargun]

A quick pic showing the amount of allied subs in the Solomon's area..

[Aurorus]

You are probably only spotting about half or less of his submarines. He is obviously not trying to sink tankers or xAKs there, so that level of submarine commitment indicates that he is trying to detect your TFs early and hoping to sink wounded ships. That indicates that he is prepared to fight a major naval battle for the Solomons, and his move to Tulagi is not a mere feint or reconnaissance in force.

Got get 'em. Trash those CVs and capital ships.

This could be a crucial point in the war, so plan your moves carefully. Be sure to do all the little things right: have your air groups set properly every turn, monitor fatigue levels on your fighter pilots, check all TFs and bases for detection level every day. That sort of thing.

[Xargun]

Some updates in the war against Mr Kane.

My Bombardment TF arrived off the coast of Chittagong undetected and let loose with everything. Range was set to 0 and everything fired, including the rifles and handguns of the officers [:D]



I remembered to set my float planes to recon and to fly at night and the results were nice.. Unfortunately no aircraft were home.

Night Naval bombardment of Chittagong at 55,41 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

65 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga
BB Ise
BB Nagato
BB Haruna
CA Mikuma
CA Mogami
DD Numakaze
DD Namikaze
DD Nokaze
DD Shiokaze
DD Hakaze
DD Teruzuki
DD Akizuki

Allied ground losses:
946 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 14 destroyed, 70 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 12 (1 destroyed, 11 disabled)
Vehicles lost 17 (1 destroyed, 16 disabled)

Light Industry hits 1
Manpower hits 5
Resources hits 1
Fires 3748
Airbase hits 19
Airbase supply hits 10
Runway hits 55
Port hits 6
Port fuel hits 2
Port supply hits 2

E13A1 Jake acting as spotter for BB Hyuga
BB Hyuga firing at Chittagong Fortress
Chittagong Fortress firing at BB Hyuga
E13A1 Jake acting as spotter for BB Ise
BB Ise firing at Chittagong
BB Nagato firing at Chittagong
BB Haruna firing at Chittagong
CA Mikuma firing at Chittagong Fortress
Chittagong Fortress firing at CA Mikuma
CA Mogami firing at Chittagong Fortress
DD Numakaze firing at Chittagong Fortress
Chittagong Fortress firing at DD Numakaze
DD Namikaze firing at Chittagong Fortress
Chittagong Fortress firing at DD Namikaze
DD Nokaze firing at Chittagong
DD Shiokaze firing at Chittagong
DD Hakaze firing at Chittagong
DD Teruzuki firing at Chittagong Fortress
Chittagong Fortress firing at DD Teruzuki
DD Akizuki firing at Chittagong Fortress


Recon the next day show fires still burning !!

[Xargun]

A little bit to the north near Calcutta the mini KB closed the distance to Calcutta and found a couple ships out for a stroll.



Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Diamond Harbour at 52,38

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36
D3A1 Val x 27

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 4 damaged

Allied Ships
AMc Calcutta, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
AMc Agra, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
13 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 10000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

Massive explosion on AMc Agra
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring AMc Agra


I am considering sitting here and hitting the port again at Calcutta, but recon shows 70+ fighters there. Perhaps a night attack? Can you do night attacks from CVs ? Moonlight isn't great, but it would lessen the fighter cover considerably.

[Xargun]

Update on Burma


My Bombardment TF escape Chittagong with no injury and is heading south. Not sure if we'll go to Singapore and then back or simply rearm from AKEs positioned near Rangoon. Oscars with drop tanks are flying LR CAP over the ships from Prome.

Allied troops are foraging along the River in Burma so I have a couple tank units along the trails near Katha keeping an eye on them. Should they attempt to cross they will be met with armor.

Reinforcement Base Forces have finally arrived from Japan and are being spread out to all the bases to build at least level 2 airfields and forts. I am planning larger airfields at Toungoo and Taung Gyi - probably size 4 to support Netties with Torps from the HQ at Magwe.


I have still not caught anything in my cap trap at Magwe and I'm growing impatient. I want to see if it works or if I need to replan.

[Xargun]

Some artillery bombardment in China.



Ground combat at 81,51 (near Changsha)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 34748 troops, 703 guns, 566 vehicles, Assault Value = 887

Defending force 37611 troops, 148 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 942

Allied ground losses:
283 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 22 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Assaulting units:
19th Division
29th Division
7th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
10th Mortar Battalion
4th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
12th Army
12th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
4th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
71st Mountain Gun Regiment
Mongol Garrison Army
11th Ind.Hvy.Art Battalion
11th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
5th Ind.Hvy.Art Battalion
4th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
2nd Hvy.Artillery Regiment
10th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
6th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
Tonei Hvy Gun Regiment
Botanko Hvy Gun Regiment
7th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
10th Mortar Battalion
13th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
9th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Hvy.Artillery Regiment
5th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
12th Ind.Hvy.Art Battalion

Defending units:
58th Chinese Corps
45th Chinese Corps
46th Chinese Corps
79th Chinese Corps
29th Group Army
27th Group Army
14th Construction Regiment

[Xargun]

More artillery strikes - this time at Changteh.



Ground combat at Changteh (81,50)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 48522 troops, 518 guns, 54 vehicles, Assault Value = 990

Defending force 56004 troops, 188 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1588

Allied ground losses:
128 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
9th Armored Car Co
2nd Ind Engineer Regiment
2nd Ind.Mixed Brigade
8th Ind.Mixed Brigade
57th Infantry Brigade
110th Division
8th Ind Engineer Regiment
34th Division
6th Ind.Mixed Brigade
11th RGC Temp. Division
51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
11th Army
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
1st Mortar Battalion
13th Ind.Hvy.Art Battalion

Defending units:
37th Chinese Corps
20th Chinese Corps
75th Chinese Corps
99th Chinese Corps
33rd Group Army
11th Chinese Base Force
17th Chinese Base Force

[Xargun]

Overall the battle in China is going slow. I'm still capturing ground but garrisons are killing me.

I have troops chasing Chinese troops into Kweilin. The 7 Chinese units fleeing there are crushed and will not help the defense of the base in any way. In fact they should make it easier for me to take it.

Another group of troops are moving into the jungles to finish off 7 Chinese units - the last units I need to round up in the South. Once these are killed or pushed north the south China area will be clear.

Heavy artillery bombardments taking place at Changteh and NW of Changsha. Not sure how long the Chinese will sit there and absorb the punishment.

Changsha is a level 4 airfield and am basing bombers there to support my battles.

[Xargun]

North Pacific

Not much is happening here. Its been very quiet with little to no allied activity. Not sure if that is good or bad. I have forces at Paramushiro-Jima, Onnekotan-jima and Shimushiri-jima building forts. I also have a pair of lone scouts out in the middle of the ocean to act as pickets. Should any CVs come near they should catch the first attack and alert me.

Etorofu is enlarging the base, building forts and laying in supplies and fuel.

[Xargun]

SE New Guinea

All allied air activity has stopped for the past few days. I was being hit almost daily by B-17s from OZ but haven't seen them for a while. I'm afraid to find out where they moved to.

A sub missed a DD escorting some xAPs along the southern coast near Port Moresby - not sure where they are heading -- probably one of the islands. I doubt Woodlark as that is a bit close.

I only have a half dozen or so base forces in the area and am rearranging them to support more aircraft. I have an air HQ on its way from Japan once I get some escorts there. A TF containing half a dozen AA units should arrive within the week and they will be put to good use.

[Xargun]

Solomons

Currently I only own two bases and only have troops at Buin. I am planning on landing at Munda and building that up to at least a level 2 Airfield to support offensive actions in the slot. I am moving DDs and other small warships to Truk which will filter down to Rabaul and the Solomons for quick raids. I am also moving heavier combat ships into the area still.

The KB will arrive back in Truk in a couple turns to refuel, repair a little sea damage and pick up my two new CLAAs for extra flak. Then I think I will return and bomb the hell out of Lunga unless better targets appear.

[Aurorus]

You are going to need more forces in Burma, I suspect. I am not sure exactly what you have there at the moment, but 6 good divisions, reinforced with the two tank divisions, and a substantial amount artillery is the very least that will be necessary once he begins the inevitable push south: probably in early 1943. Depending upon what he commits there from the U.S. and Australian force pool, you may need more. You can always reinforce the position or withdraw units later (in the unlikely event that he opts not to attack Burma).

You may want to consider advancing to the river line or even the rugged terrain beyond and holding there in force. If possible, an advance to the Imphal-Ledo rail line is helpful, mostly to delay the allies. Holding the Imphal-Ledo line in force, however, is probably not a very good idea because the terrain is not conducive to defense, and you will lose good units if (when) he decides to move on Burma in force. If he makes a concerted effort at Burma, you eventually will have to yield the position. The Magwe oil is very nice to hold for as long as possible, but it is not worth heavy casualties. Behind Magwe the terrain improves substantially for defense. Offensive operations are much slower and more difficult and supply moves much slower. I think it is a good idea to try to get out of Burma with your army intact rather than hold Magwe to the last moment possible.

Start considering where you want your forces positioned once the allies begin their advance. I like to maintain a large reserve, a few infantry divisions, in Manila going into 1943, that can respond either east, west, or south. You are reaching the point where the forces of the allies and Japan are fairly balanced. This is the time in which the game is usually won or lost. The allies are able to attack now, but lack overwhelming numbers. This is the time when Japan can often cause substantial casualties to the allies. Banzai!!!

[Xargun]

Well the month ended with some Air vs Naval action in the Southern Solomons. I snuck the KB to the East and South and approached Tulagi / Lunga undetected from the East. I positioned myself 5 hexes SE of them hoping to grab some nice unescorted convoys. I was both right and wrong.

The AM phase opened with all sorts of TFs being spotted including the KB. The first strike in the area though was a P-38 sweep against Rabaul which found nothing in the air. Then some action in China. Followed by an allied strike against the KB [X(] 36 Fighters and 34 DBs attacked against my supposed CAP of 74. The fighters tangled with the Zeros coming out on top, but the SBDs got through mostly unscathed and made their runs. It was a nail biter as SBD made run after run against my CVs... Unfortunately the very last SBD group scored a hit.




A single 1000 lb bomb hit Hiryu [:@] Another one bounced of Hiei. I was worried as I hate 1000 lb bombs and they can do a lot of damage quickly. Luckily that was the only hit. Then I had to wait until a bit my strikes - I swear the game likes to make you sweat.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Ndeni at 119,140

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 72 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 33 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 74

Allied aircraft
F4F-3A Wildcat x 10
F4F-4 Wildcat x 26
SBD-2 Dauntless x 34

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3A Wildcat: 1 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 4 destroyed
SBD-2 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 10 damaged
SBD-2 Dauntless: 4 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
CA Chikuma
CV Hiryu, Bomb hits 1
BB Hiei, Bomb hits 1
CV Shokaku
CV Soryu
BB Kirishima

[Xargun]

In the AM phase, after watching a 1000 lber hit Hiryu, the KB struck back.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Tulagi at 114,137

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 92 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 34 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 30
D3A1 Val x 15

Allied aircraft
F4F-3A Wildcat x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 2 damaged
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed by flak

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
xAK Santa Rita, Bomb hits 1, on fire
APD Pillsbury, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAP Am. Packer, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
APD Pope

Massive explosion on APD Pillsbury
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Am. Packer

It was a pitiful strike. The escort wasn't bad but only 15 Vals? That's not even one full CV worth. I was worried and to be honest about to get mad.

Then in the PM - after every other air strike happened (and I was beginning to worry that I was going to get nothing) the KB struck. Not once, but twice.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Tulagi at 114,137

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 30
D3A1 Val x 27

Allied aircraft
F4F-3A Wildcat x 1
F4F-4 Wildcat x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
D3A1 Val: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3A Wildcat: 1 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
APD Whipple, Bomb hits 1, on fire
APD Peary
xAP Am. Press, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAP Am. Builder, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
APD Pope, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAP Shooting Star, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage

Massive explosion on APD Whipple
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Am. Press
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Shooting Star


Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Rennell Island at 113,140

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B5N2 Kate x 35
D3A1 Val x 21

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
xAP Cape Alava, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAP Mormacdove, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Utahan, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AM Mildura
xAK General Fleisher, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
AM Warrnambool, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AM Toowoomba, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Bloemfontein, Bomb hits 2

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Mormacdove
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK General Fleisher

[Xargun]

The turn is done and sent back to Mr Kane and I am off to my son's Soccer Tournament. I ordered the KB to retreat. The damage to Hiryu is not critical, but she will need some yard time and at this point the battle is a win for me - no point pushing it especially without knowing where the allied CVs are.

Here is a screenshot of the damage to Hiryu. Only the Floatation and Engineering is Major. The system damage is all normal and will repair quickly.

[Xargun]

A quick look at the aircraft losses for the day. Finally the numbers are on my side for once.

[Aurorus]

Looks like a Nagumo operation. Was Nagumo in command of the CV TF? He is cautious and will often wait until the PM phase and all nav search results are in before launching on anything but CVs.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Xargun
It was a pitiful strike. The escort wasn't bad but only 15 Vals? That's not even one full CV worth. I was worried and to be honest about to get mad.

I think I sprang 3 picture perfect KB raids on Jocke in this general area...and not a single plane flew due to horrible weather...I was about to dock the KB for good.[:D]

Congratulations on a sting.

Be careful leaving your land based search arcs....very careful.

[Xargun]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: Xargun
It was a pitiful strike. The escort wasn't bad but only 15 Vals? That's not even one full CV worth. I was worried and to be honest about to get mad.

I think I sprang 3 picture perfect KB raids on Jocke in this general area...and not a single plane flew due to horrible weather...I was about to dock the KB for good.[:D]

Congratulations on a sting.

Be careful leaving your land based search arcs....very careful.

I tried that at Calcutta again. Showed up 5 hexes away undetected and since recon showed 100+ fighters I ordered everyone to fly at night with 100% moonlight... nothing flew - storms. I had the perfect timing and moonlight and nothing went. Only thing to show up was a flight of Betties from Rangoon and they missed everything.

Understood about the search area - but I was still west of the Marshalls but east of Ponape and he has no search places flying there.