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RE: Invasion Marianas

Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2015 6:10 pm
by Lowpe
Ok, by my rough count he has over 650 fighters with 175 for the invasion force on escort carriers.

How in the world can I fight that...

I could stuff Guam, Tinian and Rota (which is running low on supplies hosting 100 fighters) to the max and not make a dent.

My ships went dark...one to the south south west and another towards Iwo.

The Allies don't bomb sweep anywhere, like I was going to attack with 1 CV and 2 CVEs. Jheesh.[X(]

I am tempted to put a few small squadrons of torpedo bombers on night attack and maintain the heavy air defense and look to whittle down the fighters more somehow.

I guess I am glad that my carriers are in Singers, as no doubt they would all have been sunk. Scratch that, I would have tried something goofy at Marcus Island and not tangled with the Deathstar.

Ok, I am open for advice, prayers, perhaps somebody to second me!


RE: Invasion Marianas

Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2015 6:12 pm
by Lowpe
A beautifully executed CAP Trap. All 25 intercepted.[:)]



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RE: Invasion Marianas

Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2015 6:15 pm
by Lowpe
Not a single 4E downed.[:(]

Back when I was choosing planes, way back in July 42, somebody posted about how the Oscar IV was a good bomber killer with dual cannons. I remember, his concern was getting the Oscar to survive the sweeps as to be able to intercept the bombers and that in a recent fight he had one Oscar IV down 3 4Es.

What was he smoking?[&:] Still, I like the Oscar...and you can see not a single Oscar destroyed.

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You can see the results of heavy flak over Moulmein. That is perhaps my best flak day ever.

Unfortunately, you can also see all the search planes getting flamed by the Allied carriers.[:(]

RE: Invasion Marianas

Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2015 6:23 pm
by mind_messing
ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Not a single 4E downed.[:(]

I know the feeling!

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RE: Invasion Marianas

Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2015 6:34 pm
by Lowpe
The doomed defenders of Saipan are shaking in their boots.


There is a 20mm autocannon AA unit not listed. What bums me out is the supply and fuel I am going to lose.


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RE: Invasion Marianas

Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2015 6:39 pm
by KenchiSulla
Escort carriers are vulnerable to submarines... They are as easy to hit as cargo ships and sink almost as fast.. Do you have any nearby? You would need to time going in while dodging aircraft... Other then that, what do you have available to defend with?

RE: Invasion Marianas

Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2015 6:40 pm
by KenchiSulla
ORIGINAL: Lowpe

The doomed defenders of Saipan are shaking in their boots.


There is a 20mm autocannon AA unit not listed. What bums me out is the supply and fuel I am going to lose.


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Ouch, that's not a lot....

RE: Invasion Marianas

Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2015 6:52 pm
by Lowpe
A nasty torpedo hit, but only 30 days now that she is in drydock.



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RE: Invasion Marianas

Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2015 6:54 pm
by Lowpe
ORIGINAL: Cannonfodder

Escort carriers are vulnerable to submarines... They are as easy to hit as cargo ships and sink almost as fast.. Do you have any nearby? You would need to time going in while dodging aircraft... Other then that, what do you have available to defend with?

Good thoughts.[:D]

13 Midgets and 8 Iboat or Rboats so far. That is probably about it...ugh.

RE: Invasion Marianas

Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2015 6:59 pm
by KenchiSulla
In my first game of WitP AE I managed to sink two CVEs with one submarine (the I-boat did not survive the encounter...) when Arnhem hit an empty Tarawa base... There is hope.. That would be 60-70 less aircraft to worry about

RE: Invasion Marianas

Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2015 7:19 pm
by ny59giants
33 B-24s at Victoria Point = 79 runway hits.

OK, lets do some math! That's 33 x 10 bombs per plane or 330 bombs dropped. About 25% hit the runway. Not good for you. [:-] It gets worse when B-29s come calling. YIKES!!

RE: Invasion Marianas

Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2015 7:26 pm
by Lowpe
ORIGINAL: ny59giants

33 B-24s at Victoria Point = 79 runway hits.

OK, lets do some math! That's 33 x 10 bombs per plane or 330 bombs dropped. About 25% hit the runway. Not good for you. [:-] It gets worse when B-29s come calling. YIKES!!

At least Cannonfodder had the decency to give me hope. But, no, lets rub more salt into his wounds.[:D]

Hey, I am down, come kick me some more! (No worries, I can take it.[:D])

Well the subs are getting into position, and I suspect the Allied tank Army is going to attack on the Tuang Gyi road.

Perhaps, just perhaps, there might be a surprise for the Allies this turn. One chance, and it won't mean much in the course of events, but still...hope springs eternal.[:)]

RE: Invasion Marianas

Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2015 7:36 pm
by Lowpe
ORIGINAL: Cannonfodder

In my first game of WitP AE I managed to sink two CVEs with one submarine (the I-boat did not survive the encounter...) when Arnhem hit an empty Tarawa base... There is hope.. That would be 60-70 less aircraft to worry about

Would be nice, I would be happy for a collision or two.[:D]

RE: Invasion Marianas

Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2015 7:40 pm
by Lowpe
Well, my land troop reinforcements are starting to come in. I think I got two regiments in the last few days.

I am going to go back and re-read some of the excellent Hive AAR...where heavy defence was limited to about 20 hexes from the Home Island.

Kusaie, Ponape, Truk, Port Moresby, Umboi, Rabaul will all be bypassed I guess. All those troops need to come back somehow.

Frontlines will be shortly Luzon, Okinawa, Bonins. [:(] Oh well, probably less clicks per turn.[:D]

RE: Invasion Marianas

Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2015 9:58 pm
by Lokasenna
Do you have confirmation that he is coming for Saipan? With only 1 BB in that invasion force, his ships may take a hurting from your CD gun fortress... Unless he bombards with more.

RE: Invasion Marianas

Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2015 10:03 pm
by Lowpe
No confirmation it is Saipan, but there is another bombardment battleship force.

RE: Invasion Marianas

Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2015 10:04 pm
by Lowpe
Oct 31, 1943

The good news first, Rangoon harbor, midnight. Black night, black as pitch. Allied task forces are getting really good at evading or breaking combat. I don't like it one bit.

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RE: Invasion Marianas

Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2015 10:09 pm
by Lowpe
Banzai!

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RE: Invasion Marianas

Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2015 10:10 pm
by Lowpe
And, again!

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RE: Invasion Marianas

Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2015 10:21 pm
by Lowpe
Japan bombards Great Nicobar and Port Blair (with Musashi).

Allies bombard Tinian with a fletcher force and a cruiser force. Heavy damage to fighters there.

Tony nails some unescorted 4E over Trinkat...better than Oscar IV.

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