Banzais Don't Make Victories - Anachro (A) vs John 3rd (J) BTS 5.7

[Anachro]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Allied tanks are generally superior and in 1942 the IJA has few anti-tank (rapid-fire) guns and very poor anti-hard numbers in their infantry formations. But any tank unit can be overwhelmed by large numbers of troops, so consolidate your good infantry with the tanks support and then smash his formations. Alternately, if you think you cannot take his infantry masses, use your tanks to cut off units like those retreating on the west side of that map. Mobility is your friend as long as you don't let him surround you.

Yes, I hope to use them soon enough. For now, the British ones have been hobbled by the fact that they need to gain experience and upgrade their TOE's from the horrible makeshift AFVs. That's changing soon.

[Anachro]

May 29, 1942

Batavia should fall very soon and then a whole bunch of Japanese AV will be freed up, either to reinforce India or take Northern Australia. I suspect both. He doesn't need 1.7k AV for northern Australia.

Ground combat at Batavia (49,98)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 62575 troops, 695 guns, 302 vehicles, Assault Value = 1762

Defending force 36086 troops, 349 guns, 82 vehicles, Assault Value = 522

Japanese adjusted assault: 642

Allied adjusted defense: 491

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0

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

Japanese ground losses:
3529 casualties reported
Squads: 9 destroyed, 270 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 28 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 38 disabled

Allied ground losses:
3212 casualties reported
Squads: 23 destroyed, 190 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 151 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 49 (10 destroyed, 39 disabled)
Vehicles lost 5 (2 destroyed, 3 disabled)

Assaulting units:
48th Division
60th Division
16th Division
19th Ind Com Engineer Regiment
56th Division
90th Division
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
14th Army
15th Army
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
16th Army
17th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

[Anachro]

May 30, 1942

India


John continues to push around my concentrations north of Calcutta and gives every indication that he is trying for encirclement, but his units he is using to "cut off" forces are rather weak and can be easily pushed back and/or destroyed. A US division is moving on a tank regiment to attack it between Jamshedpur and Ranchi. The British division west of Jamshedpur is moving north to reduce exposure and reinforce other areas. To the north east of Calcutta, John is attempting encirclement with forces that at the vanguard at least are quite feeble and I will use my AFV forces with some infantry to push this back. The biggest issue right now is supply. For some reason nothing is moving much to Ranchi.

North at Raipur. John has pulled back 3 tank regiments which I will halfheartedly chase with my British Division up there. Meanwhile, Indian Divisions/Brigades and a British AT unit sit in Raipur. With 3 forts and no sign of excessive Japanese force, I don't see much danger here. Once the Japanese tanks move away, the British division will move back.

An additional US Regiment, AT unit, etc. are 12-14 days away. A US division is 14 days away. These will either arrive at Bombay or Karachi. A US Towed TD battalion is at Karachi and will move down to Patna.

NoPac


I weird thing happened today and DMS ships moving back to Pearl from NoPac in preparation for future operations randomly run into a random Japanese xAK in the middle of the Pacific halfway between Pearl and the Aleutians. By itself, it is weird and I suspect John is utilizing a very long-range line of picket ships to watch for any sign of my carriers which he hasn't seen for some time. Where they are is a mystery. [:)]

[Anachro]

DD Yugumo also took a hit clearing mines at Batavia. Hopefully, it sinks.

TF 16 encounters mine field at Batavia (49,98)

Japanese Ships
DD Uranami
DD Fubuki
DD Yugumo, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

3 mines cleared


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 16 encounters mine field at Batavia (49,98)

Japanese Ships
DD Hatsuyuki
DD Fubuki
DD Akatsuki
DD Kasumi
DD Akigumo
DD Yugumo, on fire, heavy damage

8 mines cleared

[Anachro]

May 31, 1942



John seems to like using his tanks out in exposed positions away from his higher AV infantry divisions. I suspect this is for two reasons: 1) he is aggressive and 2)heretofore his experience in the game has mostly been me retreating in the face of his units simply moving, regardless of their actual strength. However, what works early on might not work now and I am sending troops in to quickly try and kill his tank units before moving away from his stronger infantry divisions and brigades to their south.

North of Jamshedpur, a US division is moving on an immobile unit of tanks and hopefully can either destroy or expel them with a number destroyed. Northeast of Asanol, an exposed tank regiment is moving ahead of the slower brigades behind it and will run into a British Armored Brigade with a large number of Stuart tanks with 99 morale and 60 experience, as well as smaller far lesser experience AFV units (hoping to build some exp for them).

Finally, I am contemplating moving north again with my units to farther back defensive lines. John is starting to recon Benares, etc. and I suspect he will attempt a number of para landings in bases north of my troops. These bases are being send other smaller AV units to protect from para landings. Any good ideas for good northern defensive lines from past India invasions?

[Anachro]

Batavia will fall any day now and I suspect an immediate invasion of Northern Australia. I have been reinforcing and building forts at cities along the eastern coasts, as well as Perth, but other than Port Hedland the north remains ungarrisoned for the most part. John is moving from Broome, but I suspect with the 5 or so divisions he seems to have at Batavia he will move on all the cities in the north, even Port Hedland. I also wouldn't put it past him to try for Perth and Carnarvon as a decent amount of supplied/fuel is arrive in Australia through Capetown -> Perth.

[Anachro]

June 2, 1942

Batavia falls today and the 1600AV there and 5 divisions can be reasonable expected to soon move on Northern Australia or perhaps even the western coast. We'll see. I am moving a lot of AV to Perth, etc. to reinforce the area and forts have been building at Perth for a bit. Tellingly, my destroyers moving north to scout out his landings in Northern Australia run into like 5-6 subs (as seen in the replay) patrolling in high concentration around the seas north-west of Carnarvon. I suspect a lot of the heavy battleship fleets most recently bombarding my troops at Batavia will go a-roving to find my surface combatants around Australia.

My carriers are moving.

Ground combat at Batavia (49,98)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 61636 troops, 695 guns, 302 vehicles, Assault Value = 1669

Defending force 31983 troops, 338 guns, 79 vehicles, Assault Value = 327

Japanese adjusted assault: 970

Allied adjusted defense: 189

Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Batavia !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
Do-24K-1: 6 destroyed
T.IVa: 1 destroyed

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

Japanese ground losses:
1376 casualties reported
Squads: 10 destroyed, 124 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 19 disabled

Allied ground losses:
34828 casualties reported
Squads: 747 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1381 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 15 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 479 (479 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 91 (91 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 41

Assaulting units:
56th Division
60th Division
19th Ind Com Engineer Regiment
48th Division
16th Division
90th Division
16th Army
15th Army
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
14th Army
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
17th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
4th KNIL Regiment
6th KNIL Regiment
1st KNIL Regiment
III/IV Barisan Cdo
II Marechausse Cdo
IV Landstorm Cdo
Mobiele Battalion
2nd KNIL Regiment
Marinier Battalion
1st Cav Regiment
I/II Barisan Cdo
3rd Cav Sqdn
VLG-IV Sup Groep
HQ III KNIL Division
Tjilitjap Cdo
3e-VLG-V Sup Afd
VLG-II Sup Groep
Soerabaja KM Base Force
I Marechausse Cdo
NI-MLD
ABDA
Batavia KM Base Force
II Landstorm Cdo
VLG-III Sup Groep
Lijfwacht Cav Sqdn
Groep Zud
A-I-Ld AA Battalion
2e-VLG-V Sup Afd
VI Landstorm Cdo
HQ II KNIL Division
224 Group RAF
KNI Leger
A-II-Ld AA Battalion
ML-KNIL
HQ I KNIL Division
Roodenburg Cdo
KNI Zeemacht
A-III-Ld AA Battalion
4th Cav Sqdn
Batavia Defenses
VkA-1 Sup Afd

[Anachro]

Digging into sigint a little bit:

SIG INT REPORT FOR Jun 02, 42
10/17th Army is loaded on a Ehime Cargo class xAK moving to Buna.
5/17th Army is planning for an attack on Port Moresby.

Expected, but should indicate a determination on John's part to cutoff northern Australia. I've already evacuated 90% of the AV at PM by air, as John has certainly been abusing the mechanic of keeping unused airfields bombed out at a 100 to reduce supply. I expect this happens soon enough. Furthermore, I am moving troops out of Darwin down south.

From yesterday's report:

Heavy Volume of Radio transmissions detected at Tokyo (114,60).

John did have carriers recently operating up near the Aleutians and he gets an upgrade for some of his carriers on 6/42. Where will he send them back to upgrade at, I wonder?

[Anachro]

June 3, 1942

The battle in India continues. The US division arrives and finds itself alone against ~80 Japanese tanks. The division will proceed to shock and attempt to destroy as many of these as possible. Meanwhile, John moves across the river between Asanol and Raichi and runs into the 7th Aussie division, which had been moving. Luckily, we don't suffer much from our op mode malus and the Japanese troops actually come off worse. South of Patna, Japanese tanks take damage from Allied bombers, don't appear to be moving, but I am not yet attacking due to worries about the existing experience and morale of Allied troops in the hex. I will attack one additional AFV reinforcements arrive from the west and southwest.

Finally, the Burma division seems to be slowly making its way north from threatening Japanese encirclement. We'll see if it makes it.

Ground combat at 52,33 (near Asansol)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 12410 troops, 102 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 392

Defending force 16275 troops, 292 guns, 375 vehicles, Assault Value = 522

Japanese adjusted assault: 398

Allied adjusted defense: 507

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
1346 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 93 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 16 disabled

Allied ground losses:
361 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 23 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Assaulting units:
21st Division

Defending units:
138th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
7th Australian Division
75th IAC Regiment

[Anachro]

In other news, Operations Big Hat and Swindle are in the late planning phases. Another US division has left Capetown and is headed on very fast transports to India. Tank destroyer units, an additional Infantry regiment are also arriving.

[BBfanboy]

You don't have very good anti-hard values yet for an Infantry Division, so I suggest a deliberate attack (using cover and maneuver to close on the tanks rather than an frontal charge shock attack. You will lose less troops and find out if the ID can destroy enough vehicles to make the assaults worthwhile. If you have A/T guns or better still, TDs, the shock attack might be feasible.

[Anachro]

@BBfanboy You spoke to soon as I sent the turn back to John this morning! Alas, you were probably right and the amount of tanks destroyed probably wasn't worth it. You can find the results below.

June 4, 1942

India
The US 40th ID shocks the 11th Tank regiment out of the hex north of Jamshedpur and back across the river to the south, taking a small amount of casualties and disablements. Probably should have just done a deliberate attack, especially considering their experience only went up one point! Oh well. It's nice to destroy some Japanese tanks and hopefully their experience suffers.



Meanwhile, Japanese troops push into Jamshedpur, with 3 units currently showing in the hex. 2 of these units I know are a division and an artillery unit, but I know John will bring more. What I suspect he will try to do is simply bomb the supply away by bringing my airfields up to 100 and keep them there, as he bombed Asanol to decent effect today to deny me use of the airfields there to give his bombers greater free reign. Tank regiments are moving down from the northwest to support his units, perhaps even try some encirclements. John will probably try to avoid outright attacks as that seems to be his modus operandi - simply bomb and bring down supply and attack only a while after that fact! If he attacks now, he'll find ~1100 AV in Jamshedpur with 4 forts in a Jungle hex. Not the best AV, but servicable in a defensive position.



While this is going on, the Japanese division that crossed the river to the hex between Asanol and Raichi yesterday will be bombarded while I bring the 40th US ID and the 18th British ID there to try and push it back.

South of Patna, John moved his tank regiment back to what is either a regiment or brigade unit, so I will gather my armored units up there plus some infantry and move down to attack it. My armored units should be at an advantage in the clear hexes south of Patna. A tank destroyer unit just arrived at Patna and will join this push down to attrite his forces.

The 41st US Infantry Division is 17 days from arriving from offmap towards Bombay. The 147th (Sep) Infantry Regiment is 6 days from arriving from offmap, along with the Rifles of Canada Battalion (go Canadians!), a Coastal AA Regiment, and the 134th Field Artillery Battalion.

Oh, and these babies started their conversions today. 2 of them will finish in 180 days.

[Anachro]

Aleutians



I haven't yet been able to dislodge John from Umnak island, its like a long siege battle where he can't do much, but my troops utterly fail at being able to dislodge him. Nonetheless, they are pretty well-isolated and following advice from the forum I have setup Kodiak into a decent replenishment base that can re-arm battleships, cruisers, destroyers and hit John many times while his carriers are away. This has paused recently as a powerful carrier force made its presence known for a bit and I was forced to pull my ships back.

Ground combat at Umnak Island (169,51)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 10478 troops, 138 guns, 48 vehicles, Assault Value = 466

Defending force 12550 troops, 125 guns, 23 vehicles, Assault Value = 221

Japanese ground losses:
65 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

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

Assaulting units:
2nd Marine Raider Battalion
37th (Sep) Infantry Regiment
3rd Marine Raider Battalion
1st/102nd Infantry Bn /1
201st(Sep) Infantry Regiment
2/153rd Infantry Battalion
1/153rd Infantry Battalion
1st/298th Infantry Battalion
3/153rd Infantry Bn /5
47th Construction Regiment
1st Marine Air Wing
141st USN Stn Base Force
3/250th Coastal Artillery Battalion
Wake (Det.) Defense Battalion
116th Base Group

Defending units:
Guards Mixed Brigade
7th Division

Kodiak is my main sub base, AKE base, etc and is a safe distance back. Umnak is at 4(5) in airfields with three fighter wings covering, but I have not yet been able to adequately supply it, relying on APD runs for the last few months. This changes soon with additional troops and supplies coming in. I want to finish off his forces here.

[Anachro]

Soon these babies will be done, adding needed reinforcements to Allied naval air power.



The CV Wasp arrives at Balbao in 6 days. With the addition of the 2 Charlotte-class light carriers and the Wasp, Allied total carrier strength (not including the Hermes) will be 7 US Fleet Carriers, 3 British Fleet Carriers, and 2 US Light carriers for a combined aircraft strength of ~727 aircraft. This isn't equal to what the Japanese can throw up if John combines his carriers, but it is a credible force that could do well in Ambush circumstances.

Going forward, I am re-organizing my navy to confirm to a structure: battleship squadrons/divisions, cruiser divisions, carrier divisions, etc. and I'll probably use this for reporting on ship movements, etc going forward. Doesn't really do much, but adds some color and fun for me.I'll write this up later.

[Anachro]

I am considering making CVLs fighter-only units primarily charged with task force CAP defense and they will primarily operate with fleet carriers. What say you?

[BBfanboy]

Why do CVLs Wellington and Melbourne have a % sign after their repair estimate? Unable to repair the Engineering damage of 6 without being in drydock?

As for the all-fighter CVL, my own preference is to "not put all your eggs in one basket". If it gets damaged or sunk you lose too much of a single airframe, and it is less flexible if you need to send a smaller carrier on a mission away from the CV force (like escorting a heavily damaged CV in waters that have subs and raiders where bombers will be useful for search and attack). For the flexibility I would use 18 Wildcats and 18 Avengers.

[Anachro]

The % sign always appears in front of ships undergoing upgrade/refit. I'm pretty sure it's the # sign that means damage can't repair. If I remember correctly...

[Anachro]

June 5-6, 1942

In the last two days, John has finally moved 2 divisions, artillery, and some AA into Jamshedpur. Additional units, perhaps some tanks seem to also be on their way. It's interesting to me that John would push on Jamshedpur instead of, say, Asanol. Whereas Asanol is a clear hex with less troops, Jamshedpur has a decent amount of AV, 4 forts, and is a Jungle hex. A Japanese push here coupled with these defensive advantages allow me to use lower quality troops to hold the hex while allowing my British, US, and Australia divisions and regiments mostly free maneuvering. To demonstrate this, the last two turns have seen the Japanese come off the worse in bombardment engagements at Jamshedpur.



Happily too, after manipulating supply elsewhere, supply finally seems to be flowing into these hexes. Ranchi got 10k in supply last turn and I expect some to eventually flow down to Jamshedpur. While this is going on, the 18th British and 40th US ID will move to the hex between Asanol and Raichi and attempt to remove the single Japanese ID there with the help of the Aussies and some armored units, after which they will look to move elsewhere in support or to threaten John at Jamshedpur.

While this is all going on, isolated Japanese tank units west of Raichi appear to be marching north. My fast armored units will find and destroy these.

Ground combat at Jamshedpur (51,34)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 27444 troops, 273 guns, 72 vehicles, Assault Value = 735

Defending force 37470 troops, 540 guns, 624 vehicles, Assault Value = 1061

Japanese ground losses:
219 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 11 (1 destroyed, 10 disabled)

Assaulting units:
55th Division
2nd Division
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
16th Australian Brigade
1st Patiala Lancers Regiment
20th Indian Division
53rd (Sep) Infantry Regiment
Rocky Mountain Rger Battalion
254th Armoured Brigade
159th Mot Infantry Regiment
87th Mountain Regiment
19th Indian Division
3rd NW Frontier Base Force
2/9th Fld RAA Regiment
20th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
2/13th Fld RAA Regiment
222 Group Base Force

Ground combat at Jamshedpur (51,34)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 32605 troops, 516 guns, 565 vehicles, Assault Value = 1072

Defending force 30265 troops, 302 guns, 145 vehicles, Assault Value = 741

Japanese ground losses:
138 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Assaulting units:
16th Australian Brigade
1st Patiala Lancers Regiment
254th Armoured Brigade
20th Indian Division
Rocky Mountain Rger Battalion
87th Mountain Regiment
53rd (Sep) Infantry Regiment
159th Mot Infantry Regiment
19th Indian Division
3rd NW Frontier Base Force
2/9th Fld RAA Regiment
2/13th Fld RAA Regiment
20th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
222 Group Base Force

Defending units:
55th Division
2nd Division
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
25th Army
31st Field AA Battalion

[Uncivil Engineer]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Why do CVLs Wellington and Melbourne have a % sign after their repair estimate? Unable to repair the Engineering damage of 6 without being in drydock?

As for the all-fighter CVL, my own preference is to "not put all your eggs in one basket". If it gets damaged or sunk you lose too much of a single airframe, and it is less flexible if you need to send a smaller carrier on a mission away from the CV force (like escorting a heavily damaged CV in waters that have subs and raiders where bombers will be useful for search and attack). For the flexibility I would use 18 Wildcats and 18 Avengers.

Another question is - why does DD Clark show 9% when it's in shipyard and shows NO damage?

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Uncivil Engineer

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Why do CVLs Wellington and Melbourne have a % sign after their repair estimate? Unable to repair the Engineering damage of 6 without being in drydock?

As for the all-fighter CVL, my own preference is to "not put all your eggs in one basket". If it gets damaged or sunk you lose too much of a single airframe, and it is less flexible if you need to send a smaller carrier on a mission away from the CV force (like escorting a heavily damaged CV in waters that have subs and raiders where bombers will be useful for search and attack). For the flexibility I would use 18 Wildcats and 18 Avengers.

Another question is - why does DD Clark show 9% when it's in shipyard and shows NO damage?

That just means 9 days left in its upgrade/refit. Ships often have no damage during refit or all damage is repaired before the refit if over.