More Variants - The End of Western Imperialism - No Nomad please (Feb 1944)

[Xargun]

Sub Warfare:
My convoys in the North Pacific spot SS Trigger but fail to attack which is a shame, as the next action is SS Trigger torpedoing another one of my xAKs The ship survives the hit but the AI routes it to Shikuka (instead of Toyohara) and it sinks on the way. The xAK from last turn does make it to Toyahara and disbands. In a month she will be ready to brave the return trip to repair yards in Hokkaido.

SS S-33 is spotted near Hollandia but my PB fails to attack it.
SS Truant is spotted in the Straights of Malacca and is damaged by DD Hamakaze.


South Pacific:
The normal plethora of allied bombing my ground troops.
The allies make another big push at Namatanai against my isolated troops and overwelm them ending all resistance.

Ground combat at Namatanai (107,125)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 18664 troops, 306 guns, 533 vehicles, Assault Value = 609

Defending force 990 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1

Allied adjusted assault: 438

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 438 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
1247 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 134 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units destroyed 1

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

Assaulting units:
37th Infantry Division
34th Combat Engineer Regiment
763rd Tank Battalion
627th Tank Destroyer Battalion
31st Infantry Regiment
11th NZ Brigade

Defending units:
15th GEACPS Bde /2


Xargun

[Xargun]

South Pacific:
Enemy TF bombards Woodlark Island hammering the facilities but inflicting minor casualties.
Enemy bombers hit my troops in the Jungle again today.


That was all of the action for the turn. In 44 days I will receive two brand new CVs to go with the 1 new CV and two new CVLs I received end of 1942.


Xargun

[Xargun]

South Pacific:
Surface action at Aitape !!! This time the IJN took the brunt of the damage. A powerful allied surface TF arrived at Aitape during the night led by BBs Mississippi and North Carolina, and they ran into my surface TF led by CA Takao and Atago. The combat started out slow and then turned deadly as the BBs started landing some 16-inch shells on the cruisers. In the end I lost both heavy cruisers in exchange for no allied ships sunk

Night Time Surface Combat, near Aitape at 95,118, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
E13A1 Jake: 5 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Takao, Shell hits 13, and is sunk
CA Atago, Shell hits 10, and is sunk
DD Tatsukaze
DD Urukaze, Shell hits 2
DD Tawakaze, Shell hits 3, heavy fires
DD Isonami, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Eiko, Shell hits 1
DD Zuiho, Shell hits 2, on fire

Allied Ships
BB Mississippi, Shell hits 4
BB North Carolina, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1
DD Saufley
DD Ashley, Shell hits 2
DD Copsy, Shell hits 1
DD Wyrick
DD Peasley, Shell hits 1
DD Compare, Shell hits 6, on fire, heavy damage

Then the allied TF ran into a lone PB at Aitape blasting it out of the water as well.

Allied bombers hit troops isolated in the jungle in three different locations as normal.
More allied troops land at Woodlark Island.


CV Taiho and her two CVL escorts are arriving into theater and will dock and refuel before joining KB on its next mission. One CVL is carrying 48 5c zeros and the other is carrying 48 A7M2 Sams !!! Before they leave port I will need to swap out pilots in the Sams so I am sure only the best pilots are flying them. CV Taiho has 5c Zeros, Jills and Judies. I don't have any Judy / Jill replacements, but they should cause some concern for Nomad when he sees them - same with he Sams.

Sam production is still a ways off but I expect to get the 84r Frank in June or July of 43. Sam will be later around Sept or October (guessing).


Xargun

[Xargun]

Sub Warfare:
SS Sturgeon puts a torpedo into an xAK just outside Truk harbor. The ship limps into port.


South Pacific:
More enemy troops come ashore on Woodlark Island.
Another bombardment of Woodlark Island occurs during the night.
The daily dose of bombings of my troops in the jungles.



Xargun

[Xargun]

Sub Warfare:
Enemy sub SS Steelhead comes across one of my picket ships in the North Pacific and surfaces to engage with its deck gun. it lands several shells (deck gun and machine gun) into the xAK, but takes a pair of 8cm shells in return and then submerges due to the damage.


South Pacific:
More allied troops land at Woodlark Island.
A small enemy TF bombards Woodlark Island (1 BB and 1 CL).
A large enemy TF bombards Woodlark Island.

Enemy troops catch up with the 4th Inf Division on New Britain and attack wiping it out. But I have evacuated a good third or more of the division so now it can start to rebuild.

Ground combat at 102,125 (near Talasea)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 25580 troops, 499 guns, 341 vehicles, Assault Value = 817

Defending force 1386 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1

Allied adjusted assault: 809

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 809 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), leaders(-), disruption(-)
fatigue(-), morale(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1690 casualties reported
Squads: 81 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 138 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
1st Marine Division
35th Infantry Division

Defending units:
4th Division


Xargun

[Xargun]

Sub Warfare:
So I forgot to move my picket ship that was damaged last turn and the enemy sub came back and attacked twice more, luckily not doing any more damage -- one torpedo hit, but it was a good old US dud.


South Pacific:
Normal daily bombings of my troops.


Xargun

[Xargun]

South Pacific:
More troops landing at Woodlark Island.
Bombers hitting my troops fleeing from Milne Bay and Port Moresby.



Xargun

[Xargun]

Sub Warfare:
The first sub attack near the Home Islands. SS Haddo attacks an xAK twice, hitting with one torpedo each time, sinking her.
Luckily the xAK was on its way out empty but I don't like losing ships. This attack happened west of Nagasaki so I have setup some ASW patrols in that area now.


South Pacific:
More troops landing at Woodlark Island.
Bombers hitting my troops fleeing from Milne Bay and Port Moresby.


Xargun

[Xargun]

South Pacific:
Allied bombers hit the 53rd Division in the jungles near Port Moresby inflicting very minimal losses.

Nothing else happened this turn.


Xargun

[Xargun]

South Pacific:
Allied bombers hit - and wipe out the last of - the 9th GEACPS Brigade. More bombers hit the 53rd Division north of Port Morsby.


Xargun

[Xargun]

Start the turn off by saying... Lazy fighter pilots....

Sub Warfare:
SS Haddo is spotted west of Nagasaki and attacked by E Sagi in two separate attacks totaling four hits on the sub, including one reported direct hit. The sub is on the sunk ships report, but I didn't hear any sub sinking noises so I doubt it.


South Central Pacific:
The 138th(Sep) Infantry Regiment comes ashore at Canton along with some AA troops and capture the island. I had abandoned it months ago. The Regiment was beat up in the landing (lack of preparation) so they will take a bit of time to regain their strength.


South Pacific:
My large combat TF arrives on station at Aitape and the two little allied DDs there crap themselves as they face off against 2 BBs, 2 CAs and 8 DDs !!! Unfortunately it was a daytime confrontation and the ranged never got better than 21,000 yards. But the Kongo and Haruna hammered DD DeHaven with three 36cm shell hits sinking her. DD Chevalier took a 20cm hit from CA Kako. My only problems were one DD escaped and we used a lot of ammo - and torpedoes in the attack.

Day Time Surface Combat, near Aitape at 95,118, Range 29,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo
BB Haruna
CA Furutaka
CA Kako
DD Tatsukaze
DD Urukaze
DD Mike Solli
DD PaxMando
DD Shimushu
DD Port Moresby
DD Gentai
DD Daitei

Allied Ships
DD Chevalier, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD DeHaven, Shell hits 3, and is sunk

Allied bombers then proceeded on their mostly pointless daily attacks against the 53rd Division.

Then it was my turn (My lazy pilot comment from above)... I was able to move the newly reinforced KB down into the South Pacific unspotted and left her 6 hexes north of Kavieng. During the morning phase weather over Kavieng prevented any attacks, but the weather cleared enough for a single afternoon strike. Not a good showing for the IJN...

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kavieng at 106,122

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 37 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B5N2 Kate x 19
D3A1 Val x 34

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 25
P-39D Airacobra x 14
P-40B Warhawk x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 11 destroyed, 1 damaged
D3A1 Val: 20 destroyed

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
TK Angelina
PF Louisianan
xAKL Magallanes
xAKL Mortlake Bank


Notice anything missing from that attack?? Like fighter escorts? Yeah, I noticed too. Apparently the IJN Fighter pilots took the day off after too much saki the night before. So 53 bombers went in unescorted and got mauled. Another 19 Kates got lost due to weather so they avoided the butchering. Two air wings of Vals and one of Kates just suddenly gone with not even a single hit to show for it. What should have been a nice run at sinking some merchies turned into a bloodbath... So now he knows KB is back in the area and all surprise is lost.


Xargun

[Xargun]

Sub Warfare:
I-4 fires 4 torpedoes at the damaged DD Chevalier and misses.. Grrrr - would have been nice to finish off that Destroyer.


South Pacific:
Allied bombers hit the 53rd Division north of Port Moresby inflicting minor damage. There are only about 100 squads left in the jungles split pretty even between combat and support. Unfortunately at least one allied unit just caught up with them so I expect an attack this next turn.


Xargun

[Xargun]

South Pacific:
More troops come ashore at Woodlark - not sure what he is landing, but its a ton of troops.
Allied bombers hit the 53rd Division north of Port Morsby inflicting minor casualties. But the allied troops in the jungle attacked this round wiping out the fragment of the 53rd Division.

Ground combat at 97,128 (near Terapo)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 12770 troops, 155 guns, 130 vehicles, Assault Value = 480

Defending force 220 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1

Allied adjusted assault: 223

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 223 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
312 casualties reported
Squads: 33 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
8th Australian Division

Defending units:
53rd Div /1

I have ordered my Emilies to stand down for some well deserved rest and maintenance. During the whole Allied occupation of he South Pacific, these aircraft and pilots have been a huge behind the scene factor. I figure I have evacuated roughly 2.5 divisions of mixed troops (over 1000 Assault Strength - not counting disabled devices) with these guys that would have otherwise been lost. they have moved fragments of every unit out of harm's way allowing them to be evacuated elsewhere to rebuild. While the shipping of them to a safe base is not finished yet I figure a day or two of rest for the Emilies is due. I am not sure how much use other players get out of their float transports but as Japan I feel these guys are invaluable.


Xargun

[Xargun]

Sub Warfare:
SS Wahoo fires two torpedoes at DD Kosugiri near Pescadores but misses.
SS O23 launches 4 torpedoes at DMS W-4 near Muntok but misses.


China:
A couple IJA Tank Regiments attack Kiuchuan. They achieve 1:1 odds and lower the forts.


Ground combat at Kiuchuan (82,26)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1620 troops, 0 guns, 217 vehicles, Assault Value = 111

Defending force 2070 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 82

Japanese adjusted assault: 82

Allied adjusted defense: 44

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2

Combat modifiers
Defender: experience(-)
Attacker:

Allied ground losses:
112 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled

Assaulting units:
3rd Tank Regiment
23rd Tank Regiment

Defending units:
34th Separate Brigade


South Pacific:
Allied troops attack at Woodlark Island lowering the forts.

Ground combat at Woodlark Island (104,133)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 20229 troops, 325 guns, 416 vehicles, Assault Value = 636

Defending force 5136 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 157

Allied adjusted assault: 454

Japanese adjusted defense: 143

Allied assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 6)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 5

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

Japanese ground losses:
181 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 35 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Allied ground losses:
514 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 50 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Assaulting units:
5th Australian/A Division
II Aus Corps Engineer Battalion
32nd Infantry Division
5th Australian/B Division
1st Medium Regiment
2nd Medium Regiment

Defending units:
4th GEACPS Brigade



Xargun

[Xargun]

Sub Warfare:
Dutch sub O23 attacks DD Ikazuchi near Muntok but misses. In return the Destroyer drops a ton of depth charges heavily damaging the enemy sub - reports indicate two direct hits. That should be enough to kill the sub, but you never know.


South Pacific:
An allied TF bombards Woodlark Island again in preparation for their next attack which comes at the end of the turn. My isolated troops hold the enemy at bay yet another day.

Ground combat at Woodlark Island (104,133)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 19895 troops, 324 guns, 416 vehicles, Assault Value = 586

Defending force 4866 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 129

Allied adjusted assault: 210

Japanese adjusted defense: 223

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 5)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), leaders(+), morale(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
586 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 49 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled

Allied ground losses:
635 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 68 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 15 disabled



Xargun

[Xargun]

South Pacific:
Allied TF bombards Woodlark Island to little success - only 23 casualties.
With my troops elsewhere evacuated or wiped out, the allied air power turns to Woodlark Island.



Xargun

[Xargun]

China:
My tank regiments attack Kiuchuan again, lowering the forts to level 1. One more attack and we should take the base.


South Pacific:
Another bombardment at Woodlark.
More bombing of the IJA troops on Woodlark Island.



Xargun

[Xargun]

Sub Warfare:
SS Hake attacks E Hiyodori west of Nagasaki and misses. In return the Escort hammers the sub, hitting her with four depth charges sinking the enemy sub.

China:
My tanks at Kiuchuan attack and capture the base, forcing the Chinese unit to flee to the north.

Ground combat at Kiuchuan (82,26)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1612 troops, 0 guns, 217 vehicles, Assault Value = 109

Defending force 1903 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 60

Japanese adjusted assault: 63

Allied adjusted defense: 20

Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Kiuchuan !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: leaders(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Allied ground losses:
627 casualties reported
Squads: 23 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 14 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 6 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units retreated 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!



South Pacific:
Enemy bombers target my troops on Woodlark island.


Xargun

[Xargun]

South Pacific:
A surprise night time raid on Truk Port by allied B-17s only scores a single hit on a sub. I thought I had some fighters on night cap, but when I looked I remembered I took them off that for escort duties when I spotted that TF heading for Truk a week or so ago and never moved them back. Needless to say I got a bit lucky (was 85% moonlight) - the port has 30 or so ships in it - largest are a pair of DDs - a couple merchies, some AMcs, ACMs, and a dozen or so PBs.

A smaller Bombardment strike at Woodlark and the normal daily bombings of the troops there.


Xargun

[Xargun]

Sub Warfare:
SS Wahoo attacks DD Uruyuke near Pescadores but misses. The DD attacked but was unable to damage the sub. ASW assets have been ordered to the area.


South Pacific:
B-17s attacked during the night again, this time at 5,000 feet. After 6 separate attacks, my CAP was done and the last couple came in unopposed and slaughtered my ships in the port. In three attacks they hit 11 ships with bombs sinking 3 PBs and an AMc.

Two allied TFs bombarded Woodlark Island, while a bunch of bombers hit the troops there.


The B-17s attack is kind of crazy. With FOW, I lost 31 fighters (A6M2c Zeros and Ki-44-IIc Tojos) to 7 B-17s. I don't expect to shoot down many heavy bombers yet I shouldn't lose 31 fighters while defending against a total of 57 B-17s - the biggest grouping was 12 - and I had 2-3 times that many fighters in the earlier stages.



Xargun