Spanking Lowpe (NJP72 vs Lowpe (A))

[Lowpe]

A night strafing attack! Is this gamey? I love using assault bombers this way...it will force Japan to send some night fighters here which I haven't really run into the entire game.

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[Lowpe]

A daytime skirmish....this is our 2nd to 3rd string and they do very well. Idaho has I think 3 system damage. Nashville did good work today...

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[Lowpe]

I have been using Airacobras all game to strafe and ground attack.

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[Lowpe]

Tourane taken, the shattered IJA forces retreat to Hue....and there are no other troops at Hue intel reports. Our overall strategy of bypassing and isolating IJA forces is really handicapping Japan's ability to establish an inner perimeter.

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[Lowpe]

Breakout!

Those ships moved 7-8 hexes I am guessing...so I think this the is fast 4 hex+ ships left at Singers heading out. Japan has 205 fighters at Singers, and the LRCAP shot down three Zpks!

Do I dare use the DMs and Slow Battleships against this group? My initial thinking is to configure the Allied shipping into a multiple small task force swarm and engage. I expect Yamato to be here, along with Mutsu (damaged).

Moonlight 64% waning; and we are in a rain front....

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[Lowpe]

Japanese airports are relatively small around here...so only two CVEs providing CAP over Pakhoi (runway still damaged) while the Deathstar is in deep waters close by. Victorious is still here, and has to leave for Australia shortly.

Ubon's rail line is isolated by tanks....Bangkok down to 13 light industry production.

Once I take Hue (3 days or so), will have a nice rail line connection to Vinh. Might take a bit longer to establish depending upon what the militia does at Hue (surrender or retreat).

I guess I have to set Pakhoi to stockpile, still it will bleed supplies attempting to keep the Chinese LCUs in non base hexes fed I suspect.

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[Lowpe]

Butchers bill... ZPK losses hurt...but the USN Liberators were hitting Chinese industry and Japan is starting to stretch their fighters to cover it. Pools are deep for the USN beasties so acceptable one day losses to thin IJ fighters.

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[Lowpe]

I think the IJN ships around Groote, might make for Miri as the runway is functional there...if there are supplies there. From there they could make a flank speed run to Luzon?

[RangerJoe]

I think the IJN ships around Groote, might make for Miri as the runway is functional there...if there are supplies there. From there they could make a flank speed run to Luzon?

More important than the supplies would be the fuel, unless that is what you mean.

How about putting a minefield there, can you lay an aerial one? Yes, it would be detected immediately but if his ships arrive there on the same turn they might run into something and unless the minefield is swept before any ships leave, they could run into mines as well.

Would port strikes limit how much fuel could be used to refuel the ships? That might also help to limit his ships as well.

Could you also get some PT boats to visit? Or maybe patrol the approach but not into the port, especially if you lay a minefield at the port?

Slowing his fleet down might give any carriers in the area an opportunity so maybe do some night airfield strikes as well to limit his fighters?

[RangerJoe]

A night strafing attack! Is this gamey? I love using assault bombers this way...it will force Japan to send some night fighters here which I haven't really run into the entire game.

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It would depend upon the weather and moonlight. It appears that there is enough moonlight so how about cloud cover? The pilots need to be able to see the water surface so they don't try to fly in the ocean.

I do believe that this would actually be a normal job for the Beaufighter FB.

[Lowpe]

I think the IJN ships around Groote, might make for Miri as the runway is functional there...if there are supplies there. From there they could make a flank speed run to Luzon?

More important than the supplies would be the fuel, unless that is what you mean.

How about putting a minefield there, can you lay an aerial one? Yes, it would be detected immediately but if his ships arrive there on the same turn they might run into something and unless the minefield is swept before any ships leave, they could run into mines as well.

Would port strikes limit how much fuel could be used to refuel the ships? That might also help to limit his ships as well.

Could you also get some PT boats to visit? Or maybe patrol the approach but not into the port, especially if you lay a minefield at the port?

Slowing his fleet down might give any carriers in the area an opportunity so maybe do some night airfield strikes as well to limit his fighters?

I am sure there is plenty of fuel as I haven't bothered hitting the industry at all. But Japan needs supplies to mount an air defense over the warships.

Port damage definitely impacts a ports performance.

Yes, I can get PT boats there.

The problem with laying mines at an enemy base is that my ships can and do blunder into them. I have not used any aerial mines yet this game...I recall Avengers can mine ports too....any plane that can make a city attack. Perhaps mining the approach to Miri...but I also doubt the IJN warships have to enter Miri...just getting close enough for a heavy LRCAP will work...his warships have only used one day of normal speed movement.

[Lowpe]

I did come across a mention of Beaufighters used in an anti-ship method to combat the night movement of ships in and out of port at Night in the Med...but don't know of any details.

Did come across this very impressive performance:

The most famous of these was the Battle of the Bismarck Sea, during which Beaufighters were used in a fire-suppression role in a mixed force with USAAF Douglas A-20 Boston and North American B-25 Mitchell bombers.[19] Earlier in the battle, eight Beauforts from No. 100 Squadron RAAF at Milne Bay had unsuccessfully attacked the Japanese troop convoy with torpedoes and scored no hits. 13 Beaufighters of No. 30 Squadron flew in at mast height to provide heavy suppressive fire for the waves of attacking bombers. The Japanese convoy, under the impression that they were under torpedo attack from Beauforts, made the tactical error of turning their ships towards the Beaufighters, which allowed the Beaufighters to inflict severe damage on the ships' anti-aircraft guns, bridges and crews during strafing runs with their four 20 mm nose cannons and six wing-mounted .303 in (7.7 mm) machine guns.[35] The Japanese ships were left exposed to mast-height bombing and skip bombing attacks by the US medium bombers. Eight transports and four destroyers were sunk for the loss of five aircraft, including one Beaufighter

[RangerJoe]

As long as you are not planning on having ships visit Miri nor invading there any time soon, laying a minefield should not be a problem for you since they will dissipate somewhat. I think maybe 5% per turn? But since you can march overland, you can attack that way with no need for an invasion. In fact, if you did march a unit overland it would stop the oil production.

Going back to your supply task forces, you might want a very large one waiting if you should be close to capturing Hong Kong. That would give the Chinese a very large boost. You should see how fast 300k+ supplies disappear in May 1942 with only Chinese units in China except for a few of the base forces from Burma. But I could only do that against the computer after I wiped out the KB . . .

[Lowpe]

As long as you are not planning on having ships visit Miri nor invading there any time soon, laying a minefield should not be a problem for you since they will dissipate somewhat. I think maybe 5% per turn? But since you can march overland, you can attack that way with no need for an invasion. In fact, if you did march a unit overland it would stop the oil production.

Going back to your supply task forces, you might want a very large one waiting if you should be close to capturing Hong Kong. That would give the Chinese a very large boost. You should see how fast 300k+ supplies disappear in May 1942 with only Chinese units in China except for a few of the base forces from Burma. But I could only do that against the computer after I wiped out the KB . . .

I have got most of an Australian division and 5 or so artillery units there now....and they have been there for weeks. Usually have PT boats and an mine sweeper in the harbor, along with a British heavy cruiser bombarding nightly.

[RangerJoe]

Do you know what he has there for ground defenses?

If you can keep the units supplied, then bombarding with your artillery units should help burn his supplies, possibly to the point where you can attack with your ground forces. If you had moved any CD guns there . . .

[Lowpe]

Ground combat at Miri (64,87)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 672 troops, 68 guns, 56 vehicles, Assault Value = 541

Defending force 20224 troops, 145 guns, 45 vehicles, Assault Value = 461

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

Assaulting units:
8th Australian Division
4th Marine Div /2
168th Field Artillery Battalion
181st Field Artillery Battalion
226th Field Artillery Battalion
98th Field Artillery Battalion

Defending units:
16th Nav Gd /2
38th Division
21st Infantry Rgt /1
21st JAAF AF Bn
7th Field Construction Battalion
22nd Port Unit
4th JNAF Coy
13th JNAF AF Unit
21th JNAF AF Unit
32nd Field AA Battalion
90th JAAF AF Bn

We have been there for at least a month, the 4th Marine by mistake ( ), with frequent but not everyday aerial/naval bombardments and everyday artillery bombardments.

I have never seen CD guns at a non friendly base deter normal base operations or ships transiting. They would absorb any naval bombardment and cause counter battery fire. I am not even sure what would happen if I put a minefield there, and Japan put a minesweeper there...anyone have knowledge on this situation?

[Lowpe]

I am going to get 32 of these bad little girls....manned by Coast Guard sailors irl, they had almost no direct impact on the war in the pacific used primarily as local trainers and escorts, weather ships...although one ship in late 44 did manage to team up and sink an I-12 with a minesweeper on a Hawaii to San Francisco run....I-12 used AA guns to riddle lifeboats and even tried to ram lifeboats in a previous engagement....Nov 1944. War is hell.

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[Lowpe]

Logistics:

I have mapped out a West Coast to Saigon (or Brunei until I take Saigon which should fall this week) supply run. Waypoints at Canton Island, Finschafen and Morotai maps a pretty safe route up through the chokepoints.

So I need to run fuel or oilers to Finschafen and Morotai and perhaps build the port up to a larger size (currently 2 for both) Canton is already a hub stockpile.

Saigon currently is a size 5 (6) port and with a railway connection to China once I clear it. Cam Ranh Bay is currently a size 7 (6) port and will no doubt act as another termination point for more merchant ships as the war progresses. I should have Cam Ranh Bay is less than 2 weeks.

So this will be the road map forward as I move from a Hub logistical supply model to a point to point model.

The first liberty ship task force is leaving San Francisco today. And I converted about c200K+ supply of currently at sea task forces to this route. Feels good.

And of course I have the Aden/Abadan/Cape Town to India; India to Rangoon; Rangoon to Georgetown runs on the western map.

It will be a slow transition as newly arriving ships with be assigned to the long run, while the merchants with cargo less than 4k will work on draining my hubs forward...

[Lowpe]

Sept 21, 1943

Our fleets fail to clash...IJN retreats back to Singers and run into two large PT squadrons where we lose 2 PTs for no damage inflicted....daytime skirmish

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[Lowpe]

Bombardments do good work...Pakhoi unloading carries on without a loss.

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Night Naval bombardment of Kiungshan at 71,61

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-61-Id Tony: 11 damaged
Ki-61-Id Tony: 1 destroyed on ground
D4Y2 Judy: 8 damaged
Ki-43-IV Oscar: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Cummings
DD Frankford
DD McCook
DD Kalk

Japanese ground losses:
166 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 7
Runway hits 32
Port hits 18
Port supply hits 2

DD Cummings firing at Kiungshan
DD Frankford firing at Kiungshan
DD McCook firing at Kiungshan
DD Kalk firing at Kiungshan


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Kiungshan at 71,61

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-61-Id Tony: 5 damaged
D4Y2 Judy: 2 damaged
Ki-43-IV Oscar: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Eaton
DD DeHaven
DD Conway
DD Chevalier
DD Boyd

Japanese ground losses:
74 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 7
Runway hits 15
Port hits 13
Port supply hits 1

DD Eaton firing at Kiungshan
DD DeHaven firing at Kiungshan
DD Conway firing at Kiungshan
DD Chevalier firing at 32nd Division
DD Boyd firing at Kiungshan