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

[obvert]

Your forts will really help there. I was days away from level 4 at Tinian. Doing it over I'd have them building from early 42. It takes so long from level 3 to level 6. Live and learn.

The heavy arty behind forts will REALLY help. Looks decent.

[Captain Cruft]

13 Nov 1943

He has landed at Eniwetok. A Marine Division and USMC Tank Bn, which failed to dislodge two Naval Gd units. However these are now more than decimated so he'll probably take it next turn.

A midget sub manages to put a torp into an AKA, which was nice.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Eniwetok at 127,108

Japanese Ships
SSX Ha-30, hits 11, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
AKA Almaack, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CA Pensacola
CA Chicago
CL Honolulu
CL Helena
AM Quail
LSI(L) Westralia
AKA Procyon
AKA Centarus
LST-483
LST-477
LST-466
LST-460
LST-454
LCI-332
LCI-331
LCI-327
LCI-222
LCI-216
LCI-85
LCI-75
LCI-63
LCI-22
LCI-21
xAP Zealandia
xAP Lycaon
xAP Sarpedonia
xAP Mariposa
xAK Mary Livanos
DD Selfridge
DD Porter
DD Wilson

SSX Ha-30 launches 2 torpedoes at AKA Almaack
DD Selfridge fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Porter attacking submerged sub ....
DD Wilson attacking submerged sub ....
Large oil slick appears over area of attack!
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Eniwetok (127,108)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 11605 troops, 291 guns, 180 vehicles, Assault Value = 445

Defending force 3227 troops, 30 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 75

Allied adjusted assault: 17

Japanese adjusted defense: 14

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 4

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

Japanese ground losses:
1504 casualties reported
Squads: 26 destroyed, 29 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 23 disabled
Engineers: 8 destroyed, 21 disabled
Guns lost 23 (2 destroyed, 21 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
477 casualties reported
Squads: 42 destroyed, 41 disabled
Non Combat: 37 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 19 (8 destroyed, 11 disabled)
Vehicles lost 56 (47 destroyed, 9 disabled)

Assaulting units:
4th USMC Tank Bn /1
2nd Marine Div /50

Defending units:
89th Naval Guard Unit
61st Naval Guard Unit
5th JNAF Coy
7th JNAF Coy
1st Naval Construction Battalion

[Captain Cruft]

13 Nov 1943

Over in the DEI, the Ambon flotilla sinks a minesweeper and puts a torp into CA Minneapolis. However, over 130 B-24s out of Darwin then bombed the base, which as a result can no longer be used offensively. We did manage to shoot down a few of the evil 500lb bomb-carrying beasties though.

The Frances' have been withdrawn to Ternate.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Saumlaki at 78,117

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 78 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 22
P1Y1 Frances x 17

Allied aircraft
P-38H Lightning x 8
F4U-1A Corsair x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 4 destroyed
P1Y1 Frances: 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-38H Lightning: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CL Detroit
AM Turkey, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Cushing
CA Astoria
CA Minneapolis, Torpedo hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
17 x P1Y1 Frances launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

CAP engaged:
VMF-217 with F4U-1A Corsair (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 22000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 7 minutes
VMF-218 with F4U-1A Corsair (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 6 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes
51st FG/449th FS with P-38H Lightning (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 8 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 2 minutes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Ambon , at 76,109

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 78 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 26 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 10
A6M5 Zero x 54

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 64
B-24D1 Liberator x 64
B-24J Liberator x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed
P1Y1 Frances: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 destroyed, 8 damaged
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
9 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Airbase hits 30
Airbase supply hits 12
Runway hits 89

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
11 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
11 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
10 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
11 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
9 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
9 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
202 Ku S-1 with A6M3a Zero (3 airborne, 7 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 17000 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 13000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes
261 Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (2 airborne, 6 on standby, 19 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 17000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes
261 Ku S-2 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 19 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 17000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes

[Captain Cruft]

13 Nov 1943

I have decided to remove all air from upper Thailand, and instead try to form a bastion at Bangkok and Ayuthia. Both of these bases are completely surrounded by rivers.

Thai divisions will be left at Uttaradit and Pisanuloke as roadblocks, and the Nicks that were located at those two bases will mostly head for the DEI. Which is where I originally intended to use them.

The first unit to be equipped with the Ki-84a Frank (the 66th Sentai, piloted entirely by golden boys) is forming up at Saigon, and the decimated Tojo Swarm which formerly inhabited Chiang Mai is now recovering at Phnom Penh.

[Captain Cruft]

Overview

I am now being assaulted on three fronts. This is as expected but my stress level has certainly gone up a bit. The key thing is to stick to the plan, not panic and not throw away assets that matter at a far remove.

Japan has 5,000 aircraft on the map and nearly 6,000 in the pools. The fighting part of the IJN is completely intact except for 4 destroyers and 2 very slow cruisers. This provides some comfort.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Captain Cruft

Overview

I am now being assaulted on three fronts. This is as expected but my stress level has certainly gone up a bit. The key thing is to stick to the plan, not panic and not throw away assets that matter at a far remove.

Japan has 5,000 aircraft on the map and nearly 6,000 in the pools. The fighting part of the IJN is completely intact except for 4 destroyers and 2 very slow cruisers. This provides some comfort.

Tell me about it! It only gets more nervewracking! I find myself walking down the road thinking about logistics, where I'm sending new units, how to reorganize my air groups.

Your plan has been much more successful than I would have thought already. You've 'gone out of book' as chess players would say, and the psychologic consequences alone seem to be working as intended. Now for the real 'hive' as he gets in range. It's almost 44 and he hasn't touched your core area. It'll take longer than expected to get through it I'm sure, especially if kamis get activated soon. Keep it up!

[Captain Cruft]

I will not be using kamis. Not from any moral stance, they're just stupidly wasteful.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Captain Cruft

I will not be using kamis. Not from any moral stance, they're just stupidly wasteful.

I remember you saying this, but still your low naval bombing will have the advantage once they are activated of having a lot dive in 'for the emperor' as you've mentioned previously from tests. So kami activation will help with the hive.

[Captain Cruft]

CD Guns

Here's a tally of CD guns out in the Pacific:-

Ponape - 8 x 14cm, 8 x 12.7cm, 17 x 8cm
Truk - 4 x 20cm, 3 x 15.5cm, 17 x 15cm, 4 x 14cm, 4 x 12.7cm, 37 x 12cm, 20 x 8cm
Peleliu - 4 x 12cm, 4 x 8cm
Babeldoab - 16 x 12.7cm, 8 x 12cm, 16 x 8cm
Yap - 4 x 8cm (will expand in 244 days time)
Ulithi - 8 x 12cm, 16 x 8cm
Guam - 8 x 14cm, 20 x 12cm, 32 x 8cm
Rota - 4 x 8cm
Tinian - 4 x 20cm, 4 x 14cm, 4 x 12.7cm, 6 x 8cm
Saipan - 4 x 20cm, 14 x 15cm, 3 x 14cm, 12 x 12cm, 20 x 8cm
Iwo-Jima - 8 x 12cm, 16 x 8cm
Haha-Jima - 8 x 12cm, 16 x 8cm
Chichi-Jima - 10 x 12cm, 20 x 8cm

Other places with a few non-static guns are Georgetown, Singapore, Batavia, Samah, Brunei, Miri, Beaufort, Zamboanga, Ambon, Naha, Nago & Daito Shoto.

[Captain Cruft]

14 Nov 1943

Eniwetok falls.

One strange thing about this landing, it was not covered by CVs. I should have had the KB to hand, but I would never have anticipated such a thing.

[Captain Cruft]

Ulleungdo - the Last Redoubt

Ulleungdo is a WR terrain island in the Sea of Japan, just to the east of Korea. I have decided to make this my "last redoubt". What this actually means is that all the place-specific stuff that gets destroyed and is capable of resurrection will be sent there. The stacking limit is 30,000 so it's quite capacious. There will be no infantry units, just base forces and the like.

I think it's highly unlikely he will ever have the place in his sights, so it might be a good place to do mischief from.

[Captain Cruft]

Score

The army loss ratio has gone down to about 5.

[Captain Cruft]

15 Nov 1943

Frances' out of Ternate put a fish into CA Louisville at night.

Ambon gets completely trashed with 46 planes destroyed on the ground. I was hoping that my fighters would still be able to fly CAP but no dice.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on TF, near Saumlaki at 78,117

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 45 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
P1Y1 Frances x 4

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
CA Minneapolis, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x P1Y1 Frances launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Ambon , at 76,109

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 77 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 26 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 56
B-24D1 Liberator x 52
B-24J Liberator x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 12 destroyed on ground
P1Y1 Frances: 7 destroyed on ground
A6M3a Zero: 4 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
9 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 26
Airbase supply hits 10
Runway hits 81

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
11 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
9 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
11 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
11 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
11 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
11 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
10 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

[Captain Cruft]

Re-think

I have decided to move some divisions around. Places like Medan, Tjilitjap and Balikpapan don't really warrant them (and neither do clear hexes). The troops will be moved to Singapore, Hong Kong & Manila i.e. places he will definitely want to take and which have possible escape routes.

This means that the only ports I will have divisional size AV beyond Formosa are:-

Bangkok
Singapore
Brunei
Batavia
Soerabaja
Canton
Hong Kong

Something I never noticed before is that Hong Kong is actually nearer the Home Islands than Manila is.

[Captain Cruft]

Decisive Battle

I am forming an idea of how this might work, but it will have to remain secret [8D]

[Captain Cruft]

Supply

I am building beyond size 6 forts in a lot of places. This is putting a huge drain on Supply but for the moment I am just about managing. Of course I can always stop it in any given place, dial the requirement down at that base and free up supply in that area.

[Captain Cruft]

17 Nov 1943

My opponent is wondering where my carriers are. I think he means that he expects me to use them to defend the DEI, which will not happen. This view may have been reinforced by my showing of the 5 Babeldoab-based CVEs in the area.

I may take a pot shot with this expendable force if an opportunity should present itself, but my LBA is much larger and more useful. The whole "KB" concept is far more potent as a psychological weapon at this point. I do not intend to actually use it in anger until much later and the conditions need to be right.

To put it simply, I have 5,000 land-based aircraft but less than 1,000 ship-based. Why do people obsess about that small fraction of Japanese airpower which happens to be based on water?

[Captain Cruft]

Ship Upgrade Note

I only just caught this last turn. The Hyuga & Ise have an upgrade on 12/43 which turns them into the horrible hybrid carrier battleships. This is in contrast to the Fuso & Yamashiro which must be actively converted to get the same result.

Well I have turned the upgrade off since I absolutely do not want to lose those lovely 14in guns. Unfortunately it also means that the ships are stuck with a 1943 level of AA armament, but then how much real use are all those extra 25mm guns anyway?

[Captain Cruft]

18 Nov 1943

He has taken Sorong with paratroops, and landed clumsily at Lautem. I have a very small garrison at Dili.

Ambon, Kendari and Boela are being evacuated by air. I have anti-naval airpower at Makassar and its two neighbouring bases (IJA), and Manado and Ternate (IJN).

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Sorong (82,107)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 338 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 19

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

Allied adjusted assault: 32

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 32 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Sorong !!!

Combat modifiers
Attacker: shock(+)

Assaulting units:
2nd Fiji Commando Battalion

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Lautem (72,115)

TF 202 troops unloading over beach at Lautem, 72,115

Allied ground losses:
1354 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 177 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 114 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 86 (1 destroyed, 85 disabled)
Vehicles lost 34 (0 destroyed, 34 disabled)

37mm M3 AT Gun accidentally lost during unload of 40th Infantry Div /4

[Captain Cruft]

We also had a very long but inconclusive surface battle east of the Maldives. My ships were set to intercept transports unloading at Rangoon but the air threat caused them to retreat, only to meet up with a RN force which I didn't even know was there. I have little Naval Search in the area now since he used Wellingtons at Rangoon to trash Port Blair and the Nells I had there.

I lost one DD in exchange for one of his being badly damaged. My other damaged ships ought to make it to safety.

This action closes the book on IJN surface activities beyond the Malacca Strait.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Blair at 48,57, Range 7,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Sawakaze, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Hakaze
DD Akikaze, Shell hits 1
DD Shiokaze
DD Yakaze
DD Kyukaze
DD Tawakaze, Shell hits 9, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CA Sussex, Shell hits 4
CA Cornwall
DD Rapid
DD Redoubt
DD Relentless
DD Roebuck
DD Rotherham, Shell hits 6, heavy fires

Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 64% moonlight: 11,000 yards
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
Range closes to 13,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 7,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 7,000 yards
Manwaring, P.C.W. crosses the 'T'
DD Tawakaze engages CA Cornwall at 7,000 yards
DD Tawakaze engages DD Rotherham at 7,000 yards
DD Rotherham engages DD Akikaze at 7,000 yards
DD Hakaze engages DD Rotherham at 7,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages DD Sawakaze at 7,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
DD Tawakaze engages DD Rotherham at 2,000 yards
CA Sussex engages DD Akikaze at 2,000 yards
DD Rotherham engages DD Sawakaze at 2,000 yards
DD Shiokaze engages DD Rotherham at 2,000 yards
DD Akikaze engages DD Rotherham at 2,000 yards
DD Hakaze engages DD Rotherham at 2,000 yards
DD Sawakaze engages DD Rotherham at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 4,000 yards
DD Rotherham engages DD Tawakaze at 4,000 yards
CA Sussex engages DD Sawakaze at 4,000 yards
DD Hakaze engages DD Rotherham at 4,000 yards
DD Rotherham engages DD Shiokaze at 4,000 yards
DD Rotherham engages DD Akikaze at 4,000 yards
DD Hakaze engages DD Rotherham at 4,000 yards
DD Sawakaze engages DD Rotherham at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
DD Tawakaze engages DD Rotherham at 2,000 yards
DD Rotherham engages DD Kyukaze at 2,000 yards
DD Yakaze engages DD Rotherham at 2,000 yards
DD Rotherham engages DD Shiokaze at 2,000 yards
DD Akikaze engages DD Rotherham at 2,000 yards
DD Hakaze engages DD Redoubt at 2,000 yards
DD Sawakaze engages DD Rotherham at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 4,000 yards
DD Tawakaze engages DD Rotherham at 4,000 yards
DD Kyukaze engages CA Sussex at 4,000 yards
DD Rotherham engages DD Kyukaze at 4,000 yards
DD Shiokaze engages DD Roebuck at 4,000 yards
DD Sawakaze engages DD Relentless at 4,000 yards
DD Sawakaze engages DD Redoubt at 4,000 yards
DD Tawakaze engages DD Rotherham at 4,000 yards
DD Kyukaze engages CA Sussex at 4,000 yards
DD Yakaze engages DD Redoubt at 4,000 yards
DD Roebuck engages DD Yakaze at 4,000 yards
DD Akikaze engages DD Rotherham at 4,000 yards
DD Hakaze engages DD Redoubt at 4,000 yards
DD Akikaze engages DD Rapid at 4,000 yards
DD Rotherham engages DD Tawakaze at 4,000 yards
DD Tawakaze sunk by CA Sussex at 4,000 yards
DD Yakaze engages DD Rotherham at 4,000 yards
DD Roebuck engages DD Sawakaze at 4,000 yards
DD Akikaze engages DD Rotherham at 4,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages DD Akikaze at 4,000 yards
CA Sussex engages DD Yakaze at 4,000 yards
DD Rotherham engages DD Akikaze at 4,000 yards
DD Roebuck engages DD Akikaze at 4,000 yards
DD Rotherham engages DD Hakaze at 4,000 yards
DD Redoubt engages DD Sawakaze at 4,000 yards
DD Rapid engages DD Sawakaze at 4,000 yards
Range increases to 8,000 yards
DD Kyukaze engages CA Cornwall at 8,000 yards
DD Yakaze engages DD Rapid at 8,000 yards
DD Rotherham engages DD Shiokaze at 8,000 yards
DD Rotherham engages DD Hakaze at 8,000 yards
DD Rotherham engages DD Sawakaze at 8,000 yards
DD Rapid engages DD Hakaze at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages DD Kyukaze at 12,000 yards
DD Roebuck engages DD Yakaze at 12,000 yards
DD Yakaze engages DD Rotherham at 12,000 yards
DD Roebuck engages DD Sawakaze at 12,000 yards
DD Relentless engages DD Shiokaze at 12,000 yards
DD Redoubt engages DD Akikaze at 12,000 yards
Task forces break off...