The Hive - Cruft PBEM (Japan, Scen 2 Beta + Stacking Limits)

[Captain Cruft]

16 Oct 1943

I've just realised, it's Oct not Sep, so all my recent headings are wrong. Oops ...

Anyway, next turn might be quite interesting. Unfortunately this turn the perpetually horrendous weather prevented any attempts to attack the transport TF which is now at Rangoon. However there is also another apparently more heavily escorted TF heading towards the port, which has Walrus floatplanes flying off of it. I am sending in a small surface combat TF comprised of 1 legacy CL plus 6 legacy DDs to see what they can do. Then hopefully the Nicks will be permitted to take off during the day-time to add to the damage.

Meanwhile, over in the Marshalls he has now taken Wotje so the entire area is now his. Next stop Kusaie or Eniwetok.

[Captain Cruft]

17 Oct 1943

Night-time surface battle at Rangoon. CL Sendai sinks CA Suffolk with 2 Long Lances and escapes but I lose 3 DDs.

In the day-time the Nicks manage to take off and do quite well against the transports. I had to expend around 40 Tojos to cut the CAP down to manageable size though (not shown).

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Rangoon at 54,54, Range 1,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Sendai, Shell hits 6
DD Hakaze, Shell hits 1
DD Shiokaze
DD Yukaze, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Tatsukaze, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Urukaze, Shell hits 18, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Tawakaze, Shell hits 3

Allied Ships
CA Shropshire
CA Sussex, Shell hits 1
CA Suffolk, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
CL Kenya, Shell hits 1
CL Newcastle
DD Stewart
DD Arunta
DD Warramunga
DD Tjerk Hiddes, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Racehorse
DD Redoubt
DD Relentless
DD Rotherham

Low visibility due to Thunderstorms with 85% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms and 85% moonlight: 2,000 yards
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
Range closes to 13,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 3,000 yards...
Range closes to 1,000 yards...
Ellis, R. crosses the 'T'
CA Suffolk sunk by CL Sendai at 1,000 yards
DD Tjerk Hiddes engages DD Tawakaze at 1,000 yards
DD Tjerk Hiddes engages DD Urukaze at 1,000 yards
DD Tatsukaze sunk by DD Tjerk Hiddes at 1,000 yards
DD Yukaze engages DD Tjerk Hiddes at 1,000 yards
DD Urukaze engages DD Rotherham at 1,000 yards
DD Relentless engages DD Urukaze at 1,000 yards
DD Urukaze sunk by DD Stewart at 1,000 yards
Range increases to 2,000 yards
CL Sendai engages CA Sussex at 2,000 yards
DD Tawakaze engages DD Rotherham at 2,000 yards
CL Newcastle engages CL Sendai at 2,000 yards
CL Kenya engages CL Sendai at 2,000 yards
DD Hakaze engages DD Tjerk Hiddes at 2,000 yards
DD Hakaze engages DD Relentless at 2,000 yards
DD Yukaze sunk by DD Arunta at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 6,000 yards
CL Sendai engages CA Sussex at 6,000 yards
DD Tawakaze engages DD Tjerk Hiddes at 6,000 yards
CL Sendai engages CL Newcastle at 6,000 yards
DD Hakaze engages DD Relentless at 6,000 yards
DD Hakaze engages DD Tjerk Hiddes at 6,000 yards
DD Tawakaze engages DD Warramunga at 6,000 yards
DD Stewart engages DD Hakaze at 6,000 yards
Range increases to 7,000 yards
CL Sendai engages CA Sussex at 7,000 yards
DD Tjerk Hiddes engages DD Tawakaze at 7,000 yards
DD Shiokaze engages DD Rotherham at 7,000 yards
CL Sendai engages CL Kenya at 7,000 yards
DD Hakaze engages DD Arunta at 7,000 yards
DD Hakaze engages DD Stewart at 7,000 yards
Task forces break off...

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Rangoon at 54,53

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 108

Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vc Trop x 7
Kittyhawk IV x 5
Kittyhawk IV x 4
P-38H Lightning x 11
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 6 destroyed, 14 damaged
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 2 destroyed by flak

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
xAP Tilawa, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Age, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DE Sutlej
DE Electra
xAP Malda, Shell hits 1, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Devonshire, Bomb hits 1
xAP Esperance Bay, Shell hits 1
xAK Cycle, Shell hits 1, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Bundaleer
xAK Kooringa
xAK Sophocles, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Allied ground losses:
33 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x Ki-45 KAIa Nick bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
19 x Ki-45 KAIa Nick bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
8 x Ki-45 KAIa Nick bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 1 plane(s) with no ordnance
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
4 x Ki-45 KAIa Nick bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 1 plane(s) with no ordnance
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
No.14 Sqn RNZAF with Kittyhawk IV (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000 , scrambling fighters to 31000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes
51st FG/26th FS with P-47D2 Thunderbolt (10 airborne, 0 on standby, 3 scrambling)
(14 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
10 plane(s) intercepting now.
5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 35000 , scrambling fighters between 26000 and 31460.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 59 minutes
23rd FG/76th FS with P-38H Lightning (11 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(11 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
11 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 25000
Raid is overhead
No.111 Sqn RCAF with Kittyhawk IV (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 19000 , scrambling fighters between 30000 and 31000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes
No.30 Sqn RAF with Spitfire Vc Trop (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 6 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 26000 and 27000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 57 minutes

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Rangoon at 54,53

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 84

Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vc Trop x 4
Kittyhawk IV x 2
Kittyhawk IV x 2
P-38H Lightning x 5
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 4 destroyed, 22 damaged
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 3 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire Vc Trop: 1 destroyed
P-47D2 Thunderbolt: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CL Kenya, Shell hits 1
xAP Devonshire
CL Newcastle
CA Shropshire
xAP Doumer, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAP Talma
xAP Amra, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Malda, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x Ki-45 KAIa Nick bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 1 plane(s) with no ordnance
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
10 x Ki-45 KAIa Nick bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
9 x Ki-45 KAIa Nick bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
2 x Ki-45 KAIa Nick bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 1 plane(s) with no ordnance
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
4 x Ki-45 KAIa Nick bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 2 plane(s) with no ordnance
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
2 x Ki-45 KAIa Nick sweeping at 1000 feet

CAP engaged:
No.30 Sqn RAF with Spitfire Vc Trop (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Raid is overhead
No.14 Sqn RNZAF with Kittyhawk IV (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Raid is overhead
No.111 Sqn RCAF with Kittyhawk IV (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 19000
Raid is overhead
51st FG/26th FS with P-47D2 Thunderbolt (3 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 35000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 35000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 39 minutes
23rd FG/76th FS with P-38H Lightning (1 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters to 3000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes

[Captain Cruft]

19 Oct 1943

I have been trying to bomb the port at Rangoon at night to little effect. The flak is horrendous and he has radar-equipped Beaufighter night-fighters which are very effective. There is still some shipping there at the moment, I am going to try sending in another surface TF comprised of Es and APDs.

My guys in the swamp are moving very slowly, only 2 miles a day, and today the pursuing BrIndians crossed the river to initiate combat. I think it is highly doubtful whether I can now pull off any escape at all.

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Ground combat at 53,53 (near Rangoon)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 27143 troops, 620 guns, 680 vehicles, Assault Value = 883

Defending force 17039 troops, 141 guns, 73 vehicles, Assault Value = 310

Allied adjusted assault: 910

Japanese adjusted defense: 721

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
1148 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 85 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 30 (7 destroyed, 23 disabled)
Vehicles lost 10 (1 destroyed, 9 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
426 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 58 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled

Assaulting units:
2nd British Division
5th Indian Division

Defending units:
33rd Division
5th Division
7th Burma Militia Regiment
31st Field AA Battalion
15th Army
21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion
9th RF Gun Battalion

[Captain Cruft]

Time for some overview I think ...

Here are the Marshall Islands, all now in Allied hands.

[Captain Cruft]

Burma/Thailand

[Captain Cruft]

The score.

Points are just about even now, and I think this is definitely the "halfway point" of the game. He has taken his initial objectives and will now I believe start to advance on more fronts simultaneously. The Hive will compress and the points balance will certainly move in his favour until such time as we can pull off the Decisive Battle of Annihilation.

[Captain Cruft]

Allied ship losses.

Note: There are also 14 DDs not shown.

BB Idaho recently appeared on the list, I'm not sure if I believe it or not though. All the others are pretty much definite.

[Captain Cruft]

Japanese ship losses.

[Captain Cruft]

This is the fearsome group I am sending in to Rangoon. Search is only showing transports and light escorts present, so it's possibly not as silly as you might think. Also the APDs started out as DDs and therefore have good crews.

[Captain Cruft]

The 13th Air Fleet at Samah.

So far the Nells have been very ineffective bombing Rangoon at night, but there will be other targets, and he can't shoot back.

[Captain Cruft]

The 1st Air Army now comprises 739 planes, and as I hoped is throwing off a constant trickle of 50/60/60 Air pilots.

[Captain Cruft]

I recently received two new CVEs, which are on the way to join the others at Babeldoab.

[Captain Cruft]

Babeldoab will be the first base to reach size 9 forts.

[Captain Cruft]

Iwo Jima is now fully built out and pretty much up to the stacking limit. I will probably just add a few engineers when some are available.

[Captain Cruft]

Chichi Jima only needs its airfield expanded to size 3 then it too will be fully built. There is no room for any more LCUs.

[Captain Cruft]

I am not neglecting Haha-Jima either. There is an Ind Mixed Regt on its way and once it has reached size 2 AF I will finish off the forts.

[Captain Cruft]

Daito Shoto is the place I have most recently been reinforcing. I need some serious LCUs to add to the mix, but currently have absolutely none spare.

[Captain Cruft]

An Air Flotilla and CD equipped base force are the core of the atoll's assets.

[Captain Cruft]

The key area. His subs have returned ...

[Captain Cruft]

There are only 13 major combat vessels remaining to be built. The first will be the Yamato in 10 days time, and excepting the Ibuki all the others will be here by Aug 44, which is only 9 months away now.