Too much Iron in my Diet - Mundy(A) vs KenchiSulla (J)

[BBfanboy]

Lightnings make poor escorts because they are built for range, altitude and speed, not maneuverability. They should be used for sweeps/LRCAP.
Bomber escorts are handicapped against diving enemy fighters and suffer a lot of losses, so use your cannonfodder planes that have good pools or production rates, and don't put your best pilots in them. Someone (NY59Giants?) recently mentioned he uses Avengers for escort because there are so many of them, leaving the fighters free to sweep.

[Capt. Harlock]

Yesterday, he had another go at Wuchang. If I can't push it over the top, I guess he can't either.

Might be time for a Bombardment Attack, if you can afford the supply.

[Mundy]

22 August 1942

Canton's slipping away.

Ground combat at Canton (77,59)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 43566 troops, 395 guns, 82 vehicles, Assault Value = 1523

Defending force 24776 troops, 235 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 206

Japanese adjusted assault: 972

Allied adjusted defense: 297

Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
376 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 37 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled

Allied ground losses:
743 casualties reported
Squads: 27 destroyed, 88 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 26 (5 destroyed, 21 disabled)

Assaulting units:
116th Division
Hong Kong Def Force
33rd Division
56th Division
1st Ind.Inf.Group
10th Garrison Unit
20th RGC Division
1st JAAF AF Coy
47th JAAF AF Bn
32nd JNAF AF Unit
Canton Special Base Force
21st Mortar Battalion
4th Air Division
2nd JAAF AF Coy

Defending units:
62nd Chinese Corps
3rd Chinese Cavalry Corps
14th Chinese Corps
6th Chinese Corps
16th Group Army
2nd Prov Chinese Corps
57th AT Gun Regiment

I've been rotating USAAF and RAF squadrons through Bombay for upgrades and replenishing numbers. It's the only spot in India I can do that until the airbase at Karachi gets high enough. I've flipped a second squadron over to P-38s, though it has only 5 planes now. In about three weeks. I should have them up. Another 4 squadrons are upping to full strength there. Slowly getting my numbers back up. I would love to have those two Spitfire squadrons in Oz over there. Doesn't matter, I guess. when the pools fill up, I can start flipping.

My other Lightning squadron is at Nagpur. 24/25 are there with the damaged plane catching up. They'll be sweeping Calcutta at max height next turn. Hopefully a bloody nose there will give him pause for air ops in India.

Another Bolo squadron departed Cape Town.

[Mundy]

24 August 1942

My guys in Canton are at the end. I meant to get them moving out but, of course, forgot. [:@]

Lightnings swept Raipur, but nobody home.

Likewise 35 Tojos swept Jubbulpore to no effect. I have lots of my air there rotated to Bombay to replenish/upgrade. I'll be a bit dry in fighters in central India for awhile.

Marines are ready for India (almost). The 3rd USMC Div and 22nd USMC Rgt arrived in Cape Town. I'm a bit short on transports there, due to the endless airplane shipping, but more are due in about a week. They should provide some needed backbone to my defenses there.

South Dakota, Juneau, an oiler and three SCs departed Panama for Pearl. Another SC was due to arrive there in four days from East US, but I didn't want to wait that long. He'll go with the next convoy. I haven't looked, but Washington shouldn't be too far out, I would think.

[Sangeli]

ORIGINAL: Mundy
My guys in Canton are at the end. I meant to get them moving out but, of course, forgot. [:@]

At this point the only thing keeping your units alive and fighting in Canton is the 4x terrain there. If you try to retreat and head towards Wuchow you're probably just going to get routed in the 1x terrain. Best option for you here is to stay in the heavy urban terrain and force the Japanese to keep attacking until you simply cannot defend anymore.

ORIGINAL: Mundy
Lightnings swept Raipur, but nobody home.

Likewise 35 Tojos swept Jubbulpore to no effect. I have lots of my air there rotated to Bombay to replenish/upgrade. I'll be a bit dry in fighters in central India for awhile.

The cat and mouse games with sweep vs CAP is always an interesting one as it is largely asymmetric. I mean you could use your Lightnings right now to get good K/D ratios on sweeps but of course production of those planes is so limited that even a 4 to 1 ratio in your favor is probably hurting more than helping...unless of course your bombers are capitalizing on those sweeps to pulverize the bases. The reverse, however, is not true and Ki-44s can sweep all day against your fighters and achieve net positive results on the attrition. But Japanese bombers are probably not going to get good results attacking your air bases so defending against bombers is not nearly as important for you as it is for Japan.

[Mundy]

I don't know... I'm getting 40 a month for the F model, which is good enough for now.

25 August 1942

Sweep over Calcutta encounters nothing. Same for his two Tojo squadrons.

When I get my bombers up and ready, I can probably get one good "free" raid on Calcutta. I'll just have to make sure I do it good.

Washington is nine days out.

The USA 40th and 41st Divisions are in Cape Town. The former is now under SEA command. They'll get shipped out with the Marines. More transports are arriving in 5 days. Two B-17 squadrons will arrive by then, too. If CF gives me the time, I can get myself set up pretty good.

Things are bleak at Canton. Units have been vanishing through attrition. One corps and one HQ are all that's left.

[Sangeli]

ORIGINAL: Mundy
I don't know... I'm getting 40 a month for the F model, which is good enough for now.

IIRC the P-38F is a very limited production model. Ya the 40 a month is nice but I think after the F production only lasts like 2 months. I would check the aircraft availability screen and make sure your production is going to match your usage. Many an AFB has run out of P-38's when they really need them due to discontinuity in production.

ORIGINAL: Mundy
Things are bleak at Canton. Units have been vanishing through attrition. One corps and one HQ are all that's left.

Well when you moved into Canton what did you expect? I thought the plan was to force the Japanese to attack you in 4x terrain? Seems like everything is going according to that plan...I don't think it was realistic to expect them to survive forever. Chinese units are expendable after all.

[Mundy]

I believe the G picks up right away the month the Fs end. Yep, they start in Nov, but at 20 a month. I think the F runs through Oct.

Tight the first month. No problem for one squadron after that.

P-40K will also start up in Oct at 60/month

I'm tempted to ship one or two VMFs to India to let the F4U make its introduction there. Plenty of time to arrange that.

[Mundy]

27 August 1942

Quickie update...

Little real action.

I've had about 5 DDs and a KV parked at Socotra, waiting for ships from Cape Town to escort, peeling them off one at a time.

The first of the bunch is on the map, with two bomber squadrons. It'll be at least 3 days before I can move the 2-1/3 divisions over.

Fighters in Bombay are slowly recovering. I'll feel better when I can get them back to the front. I need to rest the Lightnings, as their fatigue was up. I lost one to ops loss.

[Mundy]

29 August 1942

So far, so good...

Morning Air attack on Jamshedpur , at 51,34

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 37,500 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 3

Allied aircraft
P-38F Lightning x 24

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 2 destroyed

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
23 x P-38F Lightning sweeping at 34500 feet

CAP engaged:
11th Sentai with Ki-43-IIa Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 2 minutes

He has troops moving west along the Indian coast towards my troops in the rough between Calcutta and Vizagapatnam, one hex from my guys. All that's there are a militia battalion and some armored cars. Mountain artillery are on the way.

Medium bombers from Nagpur (Hudsons and Beauforts) are hitting them, with Lightnings for escorts, since they're the only ones who can. CF most likely has a CAP over them. They're in open ground, so I'd like to smack them good. I may move my Wellingtons in from the north to help. The IJA looks like one unit, probably not very big. He's probably being nosy.

No other movements in India, as far as I can tell right now.

[Mundy]

30 August 1942

His guys on the coast have reached my forces. I'll let him attack. If/when the mountain arty gets there, they'll start in.

Da Monkey had this to say. I'm not worried.

1942-08-27 12th Division is located at Yenki 110,44
1942-08-29 12th Division - - is planning for an attack on Cairns -

I'm off on my vacation today. One more turn and that's it 'til the 30th.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Mundy

30 August 1942

His guys on the coast have reached my forces. I'll let him attack. If/when the mountain arty gets there, they'll start in.

Da Monkey had this to say. I'm not worried.

1942-08-27 12th Division is located at Yenki 110,44
1942-08-29 12th Division - - is planning for an attack on Cairns -

I'm off on my vacation today. One more turn and that's it 'til the 30th.

It is possible he is buying it out, but an attack on Cairns at this stage is hogwash. Most players buy the tanks and artillery from Manchukuo because the Chinese have no answer to them, but there is enough excess AV (8000 must remain in Manchukuo to prevent Russian activation rolls) for him to buy out a division.

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

ORIGINAL: Mundy

30 August 1942

His guys on the coast have reached my forces. I'll let him attack. If/when the mountain arty gets there, they'll start in.

Da Monkey had this to say. I'm not worried.

1942-08-27 12th Division is located at Yenki 110,44
1942-08-29 12th Division - - is planning for an attack on Cairns -

I'm off on my vacation today. One more turn and that's it 'til the 30th.

It is possible he is buying it out, but an attack on Cairns at this stage is hogwash. Most players buy the tanks and artillery from Manchukuo because the Chinese have no answer to them, but there is enough excess AV (8000 must remain in Manchukuo to prevent Russian activation rolls) for him to buy out a division.

If you have PPs to spare, you can easily buy 4 divisions if I'm not mistaken.
Some of them are really crack one! the 1st and the 8th for example

[Sangeli]

ORIGINAL: Mundy
His guys on the coast have reached my forces. I'll let him attack. If/when the mountain arty gets there, they'll start in.

Any maps of the situation? While you're at it you could give a map of the Gilbert Islands as well for your readers [:D]

ORIGINAL: Mundy
Medium bombers from Nagpur (Hudsons and Beauforts) are hitting them, with Lightnings for escorts, since they're the only ones who can. CF most likely has a CAP over them. They're in open ground, so I'd like to smack them good. I may move my Wellingtons in from the north to help. The IJA looks like one unit, probably not very big. He's probably being nosy.

Do you have any 4E squadrons in India yet? Hudson's and Beaforts are really vulnerable when any sort of CAP is encountered while 4E will cut through LRCAP fighters with relative ease.

Lastly, do you have any intel on the whereabouts of the KB? It's been about 2 weeks since that CV battle so it could be basically anywhere right now. There doesn't seem to be evidence that suggests that Japan is planning a major offensive for late 42 but the conditions appear to be ripe for one in India.

[HansBolter]

Wouldn't what's left of the KB be in shipyards repairing?

[Mundy]

Forgot the screenshot -- I'll get it next time. There really isn't much in the Gilberts. Tarawa's barely occupied.

His unit in India on the coast looked like an armored unit, based on my airstrikes. I bagged at least 6 vehicles. They're running back east, so they want no part of my guys there.

No idea on KB. I'm hoping Intel Chimp feels generous, but nothing so far. I don't know how badly I damaged the 'Kaku with the one bomb, but she may be at a real port for that.

See ya later.

[Mundy]

1 Sep 1942

Back on the first page...

Here's the Tarawa area. Not much. My cargo TFs have been cutting the corner, since it's been pretty safe here.

Strikes are trying to hit his armor on the Indian coast. Looks like they're not withdrawing from my guys now. When they're up and running, I've got some Vengeances to help out.

Some Tojos were covering before, so I'll sweep with the 38s this turn.

[Mundy]

02 September 1942

Some air action on the coast

Afternoon Air attack on 2nd Tank Regiment, at 45,37 , near Cuttack

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 11

Allied aircraft
Hudson IIIa x 2

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Hudson IIIa: 1 destroyed

CAP engaged:
64th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (11 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
11 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 15000.
Raid is overhead



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

Afternoon Air attack on 2nd Tank Regiment, at 45,37 , near Cuttack

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 11

Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 10000 feet *
Ground Attack: 3 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
64th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
11 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 8000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes



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

Afternoon Air attack on 2nd Tank Regiment, at 45,37 , near Cuttack

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 36,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 3

Allied aircraft
P-38F Lightning x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
18 x P-38F Lightning sweeping at 34000 feet

CAP engaged:
64th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 154 minutes

Of course, the sweep comes after the bombers are done...

Some APs returning to Aden are getting hit by an IJN sub in the north. Let them. My transports from Cape Town are coming on map to the south. So far 11 USAAF bomber squadrons and one of F-4 recon.

September seems to be a big month for ship upgrades. Lots of them on the blocks now,

[Mundy]

03 September 1942

A poke in the eye.

Night Naval bombardment of Noumea at 115,160

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 4 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Bulmer
DD Alden
DD Worden
DD Maury
DD Mugford
DD Helm

Japanese ground losses:
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Runway hits 5
Port fuel hits 1

DD Bulmer firing at Noumea
DD Alden firing at 8th Division
DD Worden firing at Noumea
DD Maury firing at 8th Division
DD Mugford firing at Noumea
DD Helm firing at Noumea

Wuchow fell. I didn't see his guys show up. Stuff can happen in a blink, if you don't watch things like a hawk.

Ground combat at Wuchow (76,57)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 39658 troops, 332 guns, 82 vehicles, Assault Value = 1247

Defending force 12413 troops, 39 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 317

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 936

Allied adjusted defense: 43

Japanese assault odds: 21 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Wuchow !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: leaders(+), disruption(-), preparation(-), fatigue(-)
experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
418 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 33 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled

Allied ground losses:
4172 casualties reported
Squads: 88 destroyed, 157 disabled
Non Combat: 195 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 16 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 31 (16 destroyed, 15 disabled)
Units retreated 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
116th Division
56th Division
33rd Division

Defending units:
52nd Chinese Corps

These troops were getting hit from the air for a while now. Wuchow is not air raid safe, and the casualties were building.

Lots of guys from the east are making their way towards Chungking. Mostly beat up units, but still adding up to 800+ AV. I currently have about a 2.5-1 advantage there.

Bombers galore enroute to India.

I'm sending two VMFs to Cristobal for eventual shipment to India. They'll get the first F4U-1 upgrades.

[Mundy]

05 September 1942

Three heavy bomber squadrons are about to unload at Karachi. Another five are a day out.

Along with this, my 2nd P-38F squadron is up to strength in Bombay. I just need time to get them healed up.

My bombardment on the coast show what he has there. My guys definitely won't last a serious attack.

Ground combat at 45,37 (near Cuttack)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 285 troops, 22 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 63

Defending force 21362 troops, 240 guns, 608 vehicles, Assault Value = 869

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

Assaulting units:
7/12 Frontier Force Battalion
75th IAC Regiment
26th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment

Defending units:
1st Tank Division
18th Division
2nd Tank Regiment
14th Tank Regiment

If he makes a move west, I'll rail the US and Brit divisions over. Thank the gods for my rail net here. Yesterday, a big raid hit my guys here, inflicting >150 casualties. I LRCAPped the Lightnings, but nothing showed this turn. Fatigue's building up, so I'll only go one more day. I have nothing there now, but I may have to get base forces to Vizagapatnam. Range is an issue trying to cover my troops east of there.

Mostly quiet everywhere else in the world.

A VMF appeared in San Diego. They're going to East USA for shipment to India. I've also been sending base forces and Seabees over. I have 1-1/3 divisions waiting to go at Cape Town, but have to wait for transports.