The Power of Inexperience / GreyJoy(A)-Rader(J)

[Cap Mandrake]

Dang..this is quite a turn around.

Wait...I get it...you were only PRETENDING to get your ass kicked in India!! [:)]Bloody good show.

[jmalter]

ORIGINAL: FatR

The most remarkable part of Greyjoy's Northern Invasion is not its target or the misdirection campaign, not even Greyjoy's SigInt analyzis that enabled it, but his courage and determination in pursuing his objective. As far as I can see, not many players have enough mental fortitude to bet the entire game on a semi-blind deep invasion, based on information that will inevitably be dated by the time troops hit the beaches. Particularly when lured with the perspective of a near-inevitable eventual win through low-risk means. I know that I probably don't. Seeing as Greyjoy is a first-time player, I can only salute him and his progress.

fortunately, GJ gained invaluable amph-ops knowledge during the early defensive phase of this campaign - he suffered an incredible IJHQ expansion, learned how to survive (at Tulagi, stalemating the invaders), then learned how to emerge victorious (at Dutch Harbor, throwing them back into the sea).

he learned how to plan, execute & support successful offensive amph-ops in the Solomons, then scaled-up by a factor of 10 for the Hokkaido invasion. it's just nearly incredible to me how well this op has proceeded - nearly w/o flaw operationally, & perfect as strategy - 1st the assault units, then the supplies, baseforces & engrs, then the LBA sqns - ntm the fuel, fleet-auxiliaries and seaplane recon sqns.

also that GJ's phib shipping & CVTFs suffered no losses, & are free to retire, repair, reload, then launch an exploding arrow into a target of choice. w/ a secure strat-bomber base in Hokkaido, GJ is free to conduct attrition warfare along any path he might choose.

[jmalter]

hi GJ,

now you're starting to feel your way into strat-bombing, & by HR this must be >20k?

so don't go for city/firestorm attacks (you'll need 3-400 bombers), attack airframe factories & HI specifically. but imo it's better to attack AFs (& ports when needed), close his airfields & destroy planes on the ground. don't spend your PPs transferring bomber groups to a specific HQ - but do spend PPs to buy the best commanders to captain the AirHQ units in range of your bomber bases. minimize your fighter escorts & sweeps - LRcap the enemy base instead. mind your fatigue levels carefully, keep your bomber sqns at 50% rest 'til you've built up overwhelming force. switch between targets & altitudes to keep enemy interceptors guessing.

as you begin your strat campaign, find a system that that does damage, but allows you to replace lost airframes, so that your air strength icresases over time.

[GreyJoy]

Two intensive turns


April 13, 14 1944

We conquered Toyohara, after a huge ground bombing attack made by our 2Es based at bihoro.
The invasion force is immediately re-loaded, heading for Okkaido.

At Harbin our city bombing went very good...no opposition found...we lit up a lot of fires...hope this is enough to get out his industries...

We sent a lot of DMS to deal with the mines at Hakodate...we have been punished by his CD guns there...gotta admit that i don't have a clue to stop the seabridge...between mines and GD guns that strait seems unaffordable for me...

His nitght air naval attacks continue...so far my NF squadrons have managed to keep the buggers away from my major ships...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 19 encounters mine field at Hakodate (119,53) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

329 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
DMS Elliot, Shell hits 11, heavy fires, heavy damage
DMS Emmons, Shell hits 12, heavy fires
DMS Ellyson, Shell hits 7, on fire
DMS Forrest, Shell hits 8, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DMS Howard, Shell hits 5
DMS Palmer, Shell hits 4
DMS Perry, Shell hits 6
DMS Lamberton, Shell hits 2
DMS Southard

72 mines cleared


We then bombed Paramushiro...just to keep him honest there.....
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Paramushiro-jima at 137,47 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-15-II Babs: 2 damaged
Ki-15-II Babs: 2 destroyed on ground

42 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
BB Queen Elizabeth, Shell hits 3
BB New Mexico
BB Idaho

Japanese ground losses:
235 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 11 destroyed, 24 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 7 (3 destroyed, 4 disabled)



Airbase hits 18
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 35
Port hits 5
Port supply hits 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Hakodate at 119,53, Range 1,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
xAKL Gyoyu Maru, Shell hits 59, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Tatsukari Maru, Shell hits 9, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk

Allied Ships
PT-456
PT-488
PT-489
PT-490
PT-491


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Hakodate at 119,53, Range 5,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
xAKL Mitsu Maru #3, Shell hits 1
xAKL Shinnan Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire
xAKL Nitiyu Maru, Shell hits 4
xAKL Kaishi Maru
xAKL Suez Maru, Shell hits 2, on fire
xAKL Shoryu Maru, Shell hits 3
xAKL Daiju Maru
xAKL Yuki Maru, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAKL Etashima Maru
xAK Daijo Maru, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
PT-457
PT-458
PT-459, Shell hits 5, and is sunk


We sunk some enemy xAKLs...but nothing serious...his LBs keep on moving up and down...


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

Ground combat at Toyohara (124,46)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 22835 troops, 412 guns, 490 vehicles, Assault Value = 961

Defending force 8561 troops, 148 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 308

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Allied adjusted assault: 862

Japanese adjusted defense: 123

Allied assault odds: 7 to 1 (fort level 2)

Allied forces CAPTURE Toyohara !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
1310 casualties reported
Squads: 22 destroyed, 144 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 35 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 89 (73 destroyed, 16 disabled)
Units destroyed 1


Allied ground losses:
153 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 28 disabled


Assaulting units:
102nd Combat Engineer Regiment
1st Cavalry (Spec) Cavalry Division
2nd USMC Amphb Tank Battalion
34th Combat Engineer Regiment
1st Marine Division
134th Field Artillery Battalion
249th Field Artillery Battalion
XIV US Corps
147th Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
Karafuto Mixed Brigade
77th Div /1
1st Mobile Bde /1



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Harbin , at 109,39

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 23,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 160
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 24


No Allied losses



Ki-44-IIc Tojo factory hits 17
Manpower hits 329
Fires 124440




April 15, 16 1944

We then decided it was time to try his defences north of Hakkodate...
We sent one of the major allied air bombing effort of the whole war against his 5th Area Army...preceeded by a owfull coordinated sweep of 200 Corsairs...(the biggest group was composed of 18 corsairs[:@]).
Then the attack...didn't go that well but we killed many japs and our causalities are for the most part disabled...in 4 days we'll be ready to start a bran new attack with some fresh troops!



During the night of the 15th two bombardment TFs reached unseen Hachinohe (south of Ominato) and plastered the air base there....not bad! the new ports in the south of Okkaido will become very usefull in the nearby future...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Hachinohe at 118,55

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 46 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 7 destroyed on ground
D4Y1-C Judy: 41 damaged
D4Y1-C Judy: 6 destroyed on ground
Ki-46-II Dinah: 1 damaged
Ki-46-II Dinah: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-100-I Tony: 69 damaged
Ki-100-I Tony: 8 destroyed on ground
Ki-84a Frank: 26 damaged
Ki-84a Frank: 4 destroyed on ground

Allied Ships
BC Renown
CA Exeter
CA Louisville
CA Portland
CL Denver

Japanese ground losses:
109 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 4 (2 destroyed, 2 disabled)



Manpower hits 7
Resources hits 1
Fires 2875
Airbase hits 15
Airbase supply hits 11
Runway hits 54
Port hits 14
Port fuel hits 3
Port supply hits 3


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Hachinohe at 118,55

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-84a Frank: 9 damaged
Ki-84a Frank: 2 destroyed on ground
Ki-100-I Tony: 56 damaged
Ki-100-I Tony: 7 destroyed on ground
G4M1 Betty: 9 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed on ground
D4Y1-C Judy: 2 damaged
D4Y1-C Judy: 2 destroyed on ground
Ki-46-II Dinah: 1 damaged
Ki-46-II Dinah: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied Ships
DD Endicott
DD Doyle
DD Carmick
DD Satterlee
DD Twining
DD Tingey
DD The Sullivans
DD Abner Read
DD Radford
DD Halsey Powell
DD Stephen Potter

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



Manpower hits 6
A6M3 Zero factory hits 2
Resources hits 1
Fires 3890
Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 24
Port hits 11
Port fuel hits 5

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on II./4th Infantry Battalion, at 119,52 , near Hakodate

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes


Allied aircraft
Wellington GR.XIII x 9
B-24J Liberator x 105
B-25C Mitchell x 24
B-25D1 Mitchell x 27
B-25G Mitchell x 21
B-25H Mitchell x 27
F4U-1 Corsair x 44
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 14
PBJ-1D Mitchell x 44
PV-1 Ventura x 45


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
1159 casualties reported
Squads: 19 destroyed, 97 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 137 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 23 (2 destroyed, 21 disabled)



Also attacking 86th Division ...
Also attacking 43rd Ind.Mixed Brigade ...
Also attacking Guards Depot Division ...
Also attacking 81st Division ...
Also attacking 2nd Depot Division ...
Also attacking 1st Mobile Brigade ...
Also attacking 56th Depot Division ...
Also attacking II./4th Infantry Battalion ...
Also attacking 86th Division ...
Also attacking 81st Division ...
Also attacking 86th Division ...
Also attacking 81st Division ...
Also attacking 77th Division ...
Also attacking 86th Division ...
Also attacking Guards Depot Division ...
Also attacking II./4th Infantry Battalion ...
Also attacking Guards Depot Division ...
Also attacking 86th Division ...
Also attacking II./4th Infantry Battalion ...
Also attacking 81st Division ...
Also attacking 86th Division ...
Also attacking 81st Division ...
Also attacking 86th Division ...
Also attacking II./4th Infantry Battalion ...
Also attacking 81st Division ...
Also attacking II./4th Infantry Battalion ...
Also attacking 81st Division ...
Also attacking 86th Division ...
Also attacking II./4th Infantry Battalion ...
Also attacking 86th Division ...
Also attacking 81st Division ...
Also attacking II./4th Infantry Battalion ...
Also attacking 81st Division ...
Also attacking 86th Division ...
Also attacking II./4th Infantry Battalion ...
Also attacking 81st Division ...
Also attacking II./4th Infantry Battalion ...
Also attacking 86th Division ...
Also attacking 43rd Ind.Mixed Brigade ...
Also attacking Guards Depot Division ...
Also attacking 81st Division ...
Also attacking 2nd Depot Division ...
Also attacking 1st Mobile Brigade ...
Also attacking 81st Division ...
Also attacking 86th Division ...
Also attacking Guards Depot Division ...
Also attacking II./4th Infantry Battalion ...
Also attacking Guards Depot Division ...
Also attacking II./4th Infantry Battalion ...
Also attacking 86th Division ...
Also attacking 43rd Ind.Mixed Brigade ...
Also attacking Guards Depot Division ...
Also attacking 56th Depot Division ...
Also attacking II./4th Infantry Battalion ...
Also attacking 86th Division ...
Also attacking 81st Division ...
Also attacking 86th Division ...
Also attacking 77th Division ...
Also attacking 86th Division ...
Also attacking Guards Depot Division ...
Also attacking II./4th Infantry Battalion ...
Also attacking 81st Division ...
Also attacking II./4th Infantry Battalion ...
Also attacking 86th Division ...
Also attacking 43rd Ind.Mixed Brigade ...
Also attacking Guards Depot Division ...
Also attacking 81st Division ...
Also attacking 2nd Depot Division ...
Also attacking 1st Mobile Brigade ...
Also attacking 81st Division ...
Also attacking 86th Division ...
Also attacking Guards Depot Division ...
Also attacking II./4th Infantry Battalion ...
Also attacking Guards Depot Division ...
Also attacking II./4th Infantry Battalion ...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 2nd Depot Division, at 119,52 , near Hakodate

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes


Allied aircraft
Wellington GR.XIII x 3
B-24J Liberator x 121
B-25C Mitchell x 23
B-25D1 Mitchell x 38
B-25G Mitchell x 44
B-25H Mitchell x 36
F4U-1 Corsair x 52
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 22
PBJ-1D Mitchell x 43
PV-1 Ventura x 57


Allied aircraft losses
B-25H Mitchell: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
2145 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 60 disabled
Non Combat: 19 destroyed, 145 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Guns lost 37 (5 destroyed, 32 disabled)


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

Ground combat at 119,52 (near Hakodate)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 74694 troops, 1517 guns, 1933 vehicles, Assault Value = 2870

Defending force 63450 troops, 424 guns, 80 vehicles, Assault Value = 2128

Allied adjusted assault: 1267

Japanese adjusted defense: 2655

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
2470 casualties reported
Squads: 151 destroyed, 201 disabled
Non Combat: 26 destroyed, 48 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 14 disabled
Guns lost 27 (14 destroyed, 13 disabled)
Vehicles lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Units destroyed 1


Allied ground losses:
5400 casualties reported
Squads: 13 destroyed, 287 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 99 disabled
Engineers: 14 destroyed, 88 disabled
Guns lost 98 (2 destroyed, 96 disabled)
Vehicles lost 62 (6 destroyed, 56 disabled)


Assaulting units:
38th Infantry Division
7th Infantry Division
209th Combat Engineer Battalion
754th Tank Battalion
632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion
5th USMC Tank Battalion
193rd Tank Battalion
18th Combat Engineer Regiment
8th Indian Division
93rd Infantry Division
41st Infantry Division
9th Australian Division
10th USMC Field Artillery Battalion
148th Field Artillery Battalion
181st Field Artillery Regiment
XIV Corps Artillery
33rd Medium Regiment
Eighth US Army
XXI Indian Corps

Defending units:
77th Division
III./124th Infantry Battalion
I/19th Naval Guard Unit
2nd Amphibious Bde /1
2nd Depot Division
1st Mobile Brigade
III/84th Naval Guard Unit
51st Depot Division
86th Division
43rd Ind.Mixed Brigade
56th Depot Division
Guards Depot Division
57th Depot Division
81st Division
11th Div /1
5th Area Army
II./4th Infantry Battalion

[GreyJoy]

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[GreyJoy]

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[GreyJoy]

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[GreyJoy]

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[paullus99]

With your airpower & fresh troops, it won't take you too long to clear that roadblock - he's going to lose about a Division a day (in effectiveness).

With respect to closing the barge-bridge, PTs & low-altitude airstrikes are going to be key, along with mass attacks against the port facilities.

I believe Rader is overestimating the abilities of the troops he's moving into the theater & underestimating the capabilities of 1944 Allied troops (especially the armor). I don't think he has a prayer of stopping you from securing the entire island within the next few weeks.

[crsutton]

I am with Paullus here. Constant air attacks not only kill troops but sap morale as well. Just keep grinding him down and the job will get done.

GJ are you using those massive US Corp engineering brigades? They are magnificent...

[pat.casey]

ORIGINAL: paullus99

With your airpower & fresh troops, it won't take you too long to clear that roadblock - he's going to lose about a Division a day (in effectiveness).

With respect to closing the barge-bridge, PTs & low-altitude airstrikes are going to be key, along with mass attacks against the port facilities.

I believe Rader is overestimating the abilities of the troops he's moving into the theater & underestimating the capabilities of 1944 Allied troops (especially the armor). I don't think he has a prayer of stopping you from securing the entire island within the next few weeks.

The flip side of this is those Depot divisions will eventually get better if they see enough combat (like the chinese) so you don't want to get bogged down and let him set up trench warfare where he can train up his depot divisions.

[crsutton]

I am with Paullus here. Constant air attacks not only kill troops but sap morale as well. Just keep grinding him down and the job will get done.


(Whoops! double post....[8|]

[JohnDillworth]

Ki-44-IIc Tojo factory hits 17
Manpower hits 329
Fires 124440

That's a lot of fires. BTW, there is no message that a firestorm has taken place but I have little doubt you started one and Tojo's Tojo factory will have vastly reduced capacity. Firestorms cause permanent damage, they can not be rebuilt. Time to do some homework and figure out where the George's are being produced and where the Franks will be produced. You now have the ability to extinguish a whole generation of interceptors.
BTW, your attacks on ground troops seem to be quite effective. Nevertheless, have you considered using your TBF's, dive bombers and fighters on low level attacks? Maybe some 100' attacks with Corsairs? He is either going to have to leave the island or suffer hundreds of squads lost each week.

[Crackaces]

ORIGINAL: JohnDillworth

Ki-44-IIc Tojo factory hits 17
Manpower hits 329
Fires 124440

That's a lot of fires. BTW, there is no message that a firestorm has taken place but I have little doubt you started one and Tojo's Tojo factory will have vastly reduced capacity. Firestorms cause permanent damage, they can not be rebuilt. Time to do some homework and figure out where the George's are being produced and where the Franks will be produced. You now have the ability to extinguish a whole generation of interceptors.
BTW, you attacks on ground troops seem to be quite effective. Nevertheless, have you considered using your TBF's, dive bombers and fighters on low level attacks? Maybe some 100' attacks with Corsairs? He is either going to have to leave the island or suffer hundreds of squads lost each week.

BTW) The latest patch makes that just a little bit harder .. Michealm has taken the request from Rader to add FOW ..

[GreyJoy]

April 17, 18 1944

A turn of harsh air battles over the contested hex north of Hakkodate. Rader placed a strong LRCAP over there, tryin to ambush my bombers. Instead my corsairs went in...but their sweeps, once again, were terribly coordinated....look at the LOOOOONG report and you'll see. We didn't do that well... Onlu a 1-2 loss ratio. I hope for something more in 1944......once again the bad coordination is what kills the allies.

We lost 4 aces today and some 40 pilots...but overall my Marine Pilot rooster looks good. serval bran new aces are in the bag and his shot down pilots were in the same condition of my own having fought over a contested hex.

Changed the HQ leader as suggested... spent 50 PPs on him...hope that helps

What else? We made a bad mistake...we abbandoned Tayohama before the enemy was eliminated and he conquered back the place! I had a Rgt to be transfered by air but for some reason i screwed it up and now i have to land in that damned place again[:@]

The land bombings in the contested hex went on for 2 more days with the japs loosing 250 men each day[:)]...we now have 3200 AVs in place...we'll try to attack tomorrow without the aid of the aviation...I only have one division in a bad shape (that will stay in reserve), while the rest of my units are in a pretty good fit. Maybe i can handle a 1-1...

Our RN bombed Onnekotan Jiima again... while our 4Es got back over Harbin...we destroyed some more there but i have to admit that the whole strategic bombing thing is more difficult than what i expected...it's tough to destroy a city...it takes several missions and Rader by now has his major cities covered with HUNDREDS of fighters...

Still no Kami...

Usual repulsed night attacks over my bases...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 5th Area Army, at 119,52 , near Hakodate

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 27 NM, estimated altitude 37,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 19
A6M5 Zero x 61
J2M3 Jack x 42
N1K1-J George x 73
Ki-84a Frank x 14
Ki-100-I Tony x 46



Allied aircraft
F4U-1A Corsair x 16


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed
J2M3 Jack: 4 destroyed
Ki-100-I Tony: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1A Corsair: 4 destroyed


More than 200 corsairs swept the place...several reports like that...i cut them for you



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Harbin , at 109,39

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 112
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 23


No Allied losses



Ki-43-IIIa Oscar factory hits 5
Nakajima Ha-45 hits 16
Mitsubishi Ha-32 hits 1
Nakajima Ha-34 hits 1
Nakajima Ha-35 hits 1
Fires 600
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Harbin , at 109,39

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 27


No Allied losses



Nakajima Ha-45 hits 2
Fires 657




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

Ground combat at 119,52 (near Hakodate)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1830 troops, 139 guns, 134 vehicles, Assault Value = 2406

Defending force 58659 troops, 401 guns, 79 vehicles, Assault Value = 1814

Japanese ground losses:
223 casualties reported
Squads: 11 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)


Assaulting units:
632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion
41st Infantry Division
193rd Tank Battalion
38th Infantry Division
7th Infantry Division
93rd Infantry Division
18th Combat Engineer Regiment
209th Combat Engineer Battalion
5th USMC Tank Battalion
8th Indian Division
754th Tank Battalion
9th Australian Division
181st Field Artillery Regiment
Eighth US Army
XIV Corps Artillery
33rd Medium Regiment
148th Field Artillery Battalion
10th USMC Field Artillery Battalion
XXI Indian Corps

Defending units:
III/84th Naval Guard Unit
2nd Depot Division
2nd Amphibious Bde /1
86th Division
51st Depot Division
56th Depot Division
81st Division
1st Mobile Brigade
Guards Depot Division
I/19th Naval Guard Unit
43rd Ind.Mixed Brigade
57th Depot Division
77th Division
11th Div /1
5th Area Army
II./4th Infantry Battalion


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Harbin , at 109,39

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 110
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 18


No Allied losses



Ki-43-IIIa Oscar factory hits 3
Nakajima Ha-45 hits 2
Mitsubishi Ha-32 hits 4
Nakajima Ha-34 hits 1
Nakajima Ha-35 hits 6
Fires 53

[GreyJoy]

.

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: pat.casey

ORIGINAL: paullus99

With your airpower & fresh troops, it won't take you too long to clear that roadblock - he's going to lose about a Division a day (in effectiveness).

With respect to closing the barge-bridge, PTs & low-altitude airstrikes are going to be key, along with mass attacks against the port facilities.

I believe Rader is overestimating the abilities of the troops he's moving into the theater & underestimating the capabilities of 1944 Allied troops (especially the armor). I don't think he has a prayer of stopping you from securing the entire island within the next few weeks.

The flip side of this is those Depot divisions will eventually get better if they see enough combat (like the chinese) so you don't want to get bogged down and let him set up trench warfare where he can train up his depot divisions.

In fact i wanna push him out of Okkaido before he grews stronger....Untill i manage to get the total air superiority over southern Okkaido i think it's going to be a loooong grinding trench campaign....but i'm confident. My troops are in a general good shape and the superior quality of my means is now really starting to be shown...

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: Crackaces

ORIGINAL: JohnDillworth

Ki-44-IIc Tojo factory hits 17
Manpower hits 329
Fires 124440

That's a lot of fires. BTW, there is no message that a firestorm has taken place but I have little doubt you started one and Tojo's Tojo factory will have vastly reduced capacity. Firestorms cause permanent damage, they can not be rebuilt. Time to do some homework and figure out where the George's are being produced and where the Franks will be produced. You now have the ability to extinguish a whole generation of interceptors.
BTW, you attacks on ground troops seem to be quite effective. Nevertheless, have you considered using your TBF's, dive bombers and fighters on low level attacks? Maybe some 100' attacks with Corsairs? He is either going to have to leave the island or suffer hundreds of squads lost each week.

BTW) The latest patch makes that just a little bit harder .. Michealm has taken the request from Rader to add FOW ..

As far as i can tell damages from fire were very very light....it's really better to target directly the industries... you are right guys

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: jmalter

hi GJ,

now you're starting to feel your way into strat-bombing, & by HR this must be >20k?

so don't go for city/firestorm attacks (you'll need 3-400 bombers), attack airframe factories & HI specifically. but imo it's better to attack AFs (& ports when needed), close his airfields & destroy planes on the ground. don't spend your PPs transferring bomber groups to a specific HQ - but do spend PPs to buy the best commanders to captain the AirHQ units in range of your bomber bases. minimize your fighter escorts & sweeps - LRcap the enemy base instead. mind your fatigue levels carefully, keep your bomber sqns at 50% rest 'til you've built up overwhelming force. switch between targets & altitudes to keep enemy interceptors guessing.

as you begin your strat campaign, find a system that that does damage, but allows you to replace lost airframes, so that your air strength icresases over time.

Thanks mate. Ports and AF are really out of my capabilities now. In the 5 AFs around Tokyo, for example, my recon counts more than 900 fighters...at Ominato 870 fighters are present... At Hiroshima 450...at Nagasaki 900....and not all the bases are reconned... i really cannot efford to send 200 4Es in the mouth of those lions....
At the moment i have to stick on a "smart" strategy...hit here and there...relyin on suprirse....and, at the same time, keep on using my 4Es in a tactical role in order to push him out of Okkaido...
Cannot strat bomb where i want now...and i have too few long legged fighters to be able to sweep anything south of Ominato...

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: FatR

The most remarkable part of Greyjoy's Northern Invasion is not its target or the misdirection campaign, not even Greyjoy's SigInt analyzis that enabled it, but his courage and determination in pursuing his objective. As far as I can see, not many players have enough mental fortitude to bet the entire game on a semi-blind deep invasion, based on information that will inevitably be dated by the time troops hit the beaches. Particularly when lured with the perspective of a near-inevitable eventual win through low-risk means. I know that I probably don't. Seeing as Greyjoy is a first-time player, I can only salute him and his progress.

Thanks