RIDERS ON THE STORM-THANK YOU

[Mistmatz]

I read about spread out para attacks a while ago. Back then I believe it was considered a bug/flaw.
I wonder if there is a method to really cause those non-base drops or at least something to increase the chances that the paras are scattered like they were in your case.

[Gen.Hoepner]

ORIGINAL: Mistmatz

I read about spread out para attacks a while ago. Back then I believe it was considered a bug/flaw.
I wonder if there is a method to really cause those non-base drops or at least something to increase the chances that the paras are scattered like they were in your case.

I didn't know it could have be done, really. Never heard about that...well, however wasn't in our HRs so i cannot say anything about that....

[Elladan]

How are your battleships from Kwajalein bombardment TFs? A lot of hits in the report but seems to be small caliber ones.
As for Marianas, would you possibly have enough forces to occupy at least 2 islands there? There is a value in mutually supporting airfields. What is the terrain on Marianas in this mod?

[Gen.Hoepner]

ORIGINAL: Elladan

How are your battleships from Kwwajalein bombardment TFs? A lot of hits in the report but seems to be small caliber ones.
As for Marianas, would you possibly have enough forces to occupy at least 2 islands there? There is a value in mutually supporting airfields. What is the terrain on Marianas in this mod?

Hi Elladan,

the BBs are in perfect shape. Just some minor fire, but nothing serious. They're all below 5 syst dmg.
Guam and Saipan are costal Mountain,only Tinian is CC...that's why i chose Tinian as a main base.
Yes, however if i manage to get the surprise i'm looking for, i'll try to occupy also Guam...

[Elladan]

I would choose Guam/Saipan instead if you could bring those 3 Divs there and Japanese don't have proper garrison. Would make it 3 times easier to stay there after inevitable counterattack

[Jim D Burns]

ORIGINAL: Gen.Hoepner
the BBs are in perfect shape. Just some minor fire, but nothing serious. They're all below 5 syst dmg.

Take a look at some of Japan's naval bombardments against my bases (Soerabaja and Darwin) with CD coverage in my AAR Hoepner, naval bombardments are pretty useless against bases with good CD gun defenses. I bet his base is in almost perfect shape. You need to hammer it form the air, don't bother using ships there right now, it's a waist in CHS (a good thing in my opinion).

Air strikes should disrupt most of the guns after a few weeks of sustained attacks. Bring your ships back then and they'll do a lot better. Also air recon helps a lot too.

Jim

[jumper]

ORIGINAL: Gen.Hoepner

ORIGINAL: Mistmatz

I read about spread out para attacks a while ago. Back then I believe it was considered a bug/flaw.
I wonder if there is a method to really cause those non-base drops or at least something to increase the chances that the paras are scattered like they were in your case.

I didn't know it could have be done, really. Never heard about that...well, however wasn't in our HRs so i cannot say anything about that....

Non base paradrops are very "sensitive" issue. Personaly I take it as a pretty dirty trick. Exploiting a flaw in game engine. You can´t just simply set the non base target for paradrop as it is not allowed in the game. You have to choose supply mission at first, then choose the target hex and THEN change the mission to troop transport.. This way you will avoid the implemented restriction. The procedure itself shows it is not a standard move.

[TenChiMato]

ORIGINAL: jumper
Non base paradrops are very "sensitive" issue. Personaly I take it as a pretty dirty trick. Exploiting a flaw in game engine. You can´t just simply set the non base target for paradrop as it is not allowed in the game. You have to choose supply mission at first, then choose the target hex and THEN change the mission to troop transport.. This way you will avoid the implemented restriction. The procedure itself shows it is not a standard move.

Never heard about this trick before I first saw it used on a small scale in PzB AAR during the reconquest of the PI by the allied. Thats there : http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=679803&mpage=142&key=

Could make for a HR as its much alike landing in a non base hex with the added bonus of a shock attack,

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/27/42

It's however guys something which was not in our HRs so i prefer to let it go...what pisses me off is the catapult effect that these para-drops have on the adiacent units already marching...this screws up the entire retreat movement...[:(]

A bloody day in Indian skies....from Malir we tried to give the KB some hits...but 260 zeros on CAP were really too much to handle this time...lost 60 planes in A2A combat against only 6 zeros...[:(]

Anyway...Eniwetok was conquered today. Already 30 marines wildcats are based there along with 12 Catalinas...
In 2 Days we'll start the landings on Jaluit, again pounded by my ships and my SDBs today...

Gotta go to work...later some more insight...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Kwajalein, at 81,84 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
E7K2 Alf: 3 destroyed

26 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
BB Mississippi, Shell hits 10
BB California
BB Oklahoma
BB West Virginia

Japanese ground losses:
5111 casualties reported
Guns lost 56

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 56
Port hits 1
Port supply hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Jaluit, at 82,88 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

5 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
BB Colorado, Shell hits 1

Japanese ground losses:
130 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 20,9[:(]

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 260

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 7
Blenheim IV x 9
B-25C Mitchell x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 22 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 7 destroyed
Blenheim IV: 8 destroyed
B-25C Mitchell: 15 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 20,9[:(]

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 260

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 15
Blenheim IV x 15
Martin 139 x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed, 19 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 15 destroyed
Blenheim IV: 3 destroyed, 6 damaged
Martin 139: 8 destroyed


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Jaluit, at 82,88

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
H6K4 Mavis: 1 destroyed
E13A1 Jake: 2 destroyed

Allied Ships
CL Boise
CA Canberra
CA Australia
CA Houston

Japanese ground losses:
201 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 24
Airbase supply hits 22
Port hits 3
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Poona *abbandoned to refugee at Bombay*

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 20682 troops, 113 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 474

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

Japanese max assault: 730 - adjusted assault: 641

Allied max defense: 0 - adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 641 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Poona base !!!



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Eniwetok

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 498 troops, 7 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 20

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

Allied max assault: 28 - adjusted assault: 8

Japanese max defense: 0 - adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 8 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Eniwetok base !!![:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/28/42

Another day of furious fightings all over the map.
In india one more fast AP managed to get through the enemy sub screen, bringing another Indian HQ fragment, while an AK that had the parental unit was torpedoed and sunk...now i hope the unit won't disappear...let's cross the fingers!
At the same time the japs managed to conquer Jaipur...thankfully most of the infantry units present there were rescued by my transport A/Cs...however now Malir will be next...

In China we managed to get back Hanckow. Now Shangai is directly threatened and he should do something to defend it...which is damned a good thing cause he's massed 30 units at Kuikiang and Nanchang now, with its only 1500 AVs present there is in terrible risk!

In the Marshalls we managed to conquer Jaluit. Retribution operation is succesfully completed with minimal losses.!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Jaluit, at 82,88

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
H6K4 Mavis: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CL Boise
CA Canberra
CA Australia
CA Houston

Japanese ground losses:
19 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Port hits 12
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 10



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 14,1 *fast APs are more than a challenge for the jap subs...[:D]*

Japanese Ships
SS I-156

Allied Ships
AP Corfu




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 13,1 *...while slow AKs are an easy target*[:@]

Japanese Ships
SS I-1

Allied Ships
AK Hermelin, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage


Allied ground losses:
33 casualties reported



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Jaipur

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 16020 troops, 65 guns, 79 vehicles, Assault Value = 718

Defending force 6278 troops, 55 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 49

Japanese max assault: 308 - adjusted assault: 226

Allied max defense: 46 - adjusted defense: 15

Japanese assault odds: 15 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Jaipur base !!!


Japanese ground losses:
22 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
701 casualties reported
Guns lost 23


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Hangchow

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 66288 troops, 432 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 1944

Defending force 7378 troops, 26 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 143

Allied max assault: 1587 - adjusted assault: 1138

Japanese max defense: 151 - adjusted defense: 71

Allied assault odds: 16 to 1 (fort level 3)

Allied forces CAPTURE Hangchow base !!![:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]


Japanese ground losses:
127 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

Allied ground losses:
211 casualties reported
Guns lost 9
Vehicles lost 1


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Jaluit

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 2149 troops, 8 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 88

Defending force 1834 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 19

Allied max assault: 82 - adjusted assault: 28

Japanese max defense: 9 - adjusted defense: 4

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

Allied forces CAPTURE Jaluit base !!![:D][8D][;)]


Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
E13A1 Jake: 1 destroyed
H6K4 Mavis: 3 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
29 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
189 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

[Gen.Hoepner]

What we know is that untill Malir isn't in Japs' hands KB will have to stay in India because if he wants to close the door to Karachi from Aden he will need either the presence of the KB in front of Karachi or a very close AF full of Betties and Nells, which is Malir.
But due to the fact that Malir will soon be in Japs hands, i think the KB would possibly be in the Pacific by the end of March 42. So the chances of invading the Mariannas without the KB lurking there will be very very low....

[okami]

ORIGINAL: Gen.Hoepner

Ok, the idea is the following:

2nd Marine Div, 24th Division and Americal Division will be prepping for Tinian, in the Mariannas, along with base forces, tons of planes, AA guns, CD units and whatever will be needed to defend the place from a japanese coming back...
First we'll have to obliterate Truk with my 4Es from Eniwatok, or at least to force him to keep his forces there. So we must build up Eniwatok ASAP!...

will be a race against time...wow, this game is really running fast!!

Set them to prep for Guam or Siapan. Tinian is a Mountain Hex.

[Kereguelen]

Hmm, you'll need at least one AF within range of Eniwetok to cover it. Kusaie Island is buildable to level 4 in CHS, isn't it?

And Ponape could be another tempting target now even if your opponent may try to take it back (maybe taking Ponape is in order, just to eliminate the base force there, depends on the number of Japanese LCU's present there...).

K

[Gen.Hoepner]

ORIGINAL: okami

ORIGINAL: Gen.Hoepner

Ok, the idea is the following:

2nd Marine Div, 24th Division and Americal Division will be prepping for Tinian, in the Mariannas, along with base forces, tons of planes, AA guns, CD units and whatever will be needed to defend the place from a japanese coming back...
First we'll have to obliterate Truk with my 4Es from Eniwatok, or at least to force him to keep his forces there. So we must build up Eniwatok ASAP!...

will be a race against time...wow, this game is really running fast!!

Set them to prep for Guam or Siapan. Tinian is a Mountain Hex.

Hi, i've checked several times...in my map (which is up to date) Tinian is CC, while Guam and Saipan are CM...

[Gen.Hoepner]

ORIGINAL: Kereguelen

Hmm, you'll need at least one AF within range of Eniwetok to cover it. Kusaie Island is buildable to level 4 in CHS, isn't it?

And Ponape could be another tempting target now even if your opponent may try to take it back (maybe taking Ponape is in order, just to eliminate the base force there, depends on the number of Japanese LCU's present there...).

K

No, i won't bother building up another base. We're out of Zeros range at Eniwetok (11 hexes, while in this mod zeros have a range of 10 hexes!). If he wants to send his betties (that he has already rebased at Truk) against my Wildcats he's truly welcomed! Sending in some eng i can build the base faster than he can destroy it so i'll force an exchanging blows battle of attrition here if he dares to!

Ponape can be a target. I still have to find how many units are present there. However first i need to recon Truk and see how many fighters are present before sending in my ships...

[Gen.Hoepner]

Indian situation up to date

[Gen.Hoepner]

Marshalls...

[goodboyladdie]

He seems to be very focused on India still. I would have thought getting your bombers off of his sea communications would have been a priority. It will surely have an effect on his economy if he does not deal with the PI soon? Can you hit any of his HI from Clark?

[Gen.Hoepner]

ORIGINAL: goodboyladdie

He seems to be very focused on India still. I would have thought getting your bombers off of his sea communications would have been a priority. It will surely have an effect on his economy if he does not deal with the PI soon? Can you hit any of his HI from Clark?

I could reach Brunei but only with my 4Es. Actually i have only 12 B-17Ds at Manila and cannot upgrade more B.25 there to 4Es cause i need all the 4Es i have in the next pacific push against Truk...
But the costant threat on his shipping lanes remains. He's passing very close to china and very south of Mindanao to avoid the PI...but my subs based at Manila are starting to hurt...in the next months i'm planning to send a lot of subs in those waters[;)]

[Gen.Hoepner]

As u can see from the screenshot above Delhi is already sourrounded...another para-drop beyond my lines (north of Delhi) closed the exit door towards Ralpawindi...
With these moves we've lost a total of 650 AVs that would have been badly needed for the last stand in Karachi...[:(]