Jorge's(A) crusade to the fabled kingdom of PresterJohn(J) DBB-C --- Allied AAR

[Jorge_Stanbury]

And this is the plan for tomorrow.

I think Hermes has very poor chances now, but if Indomitable and Formidable make it, then it would be great

[Jorge_Stanbury]

I guess the question now is how many ships will sink due to "flooding events";

It also might make sense to send the worst damaged ships to Bombay instead of Mombasa, as it is a much shorter route and so far, very little Japanese submarine activity there. I will need to think about it; I have until tomorrow, as the ships at Addu just spent lots of OP points in refueling.

And in case you want to ask, where is CV Illustrious?



The plan was to base it in PH, and to work with the USN... however, it is now needed more urgently in the Indian Ocean, so it will go to Stanley, then CT again.
I also decided to attach CV Wasp (arriving in the next weeks) to the RN. These 2 carriers will give some credible deterrence to the Eastern fleet; enough firepower to challenge anything except the KB

[jwolf]

Can you send some of the DD from Addu to give ASW protection for your wounded ships? One more fish in any of them will sink them for sure. [:(] Hate those darn Jap subs!! [:@]

[Jorge_Stanbury]

They are already too far away, and there is a missing Japanese SCTF that might be lurking, so not really an option now.

Moreover, too many of the DDs at Addu are also damaged/ slow so I need them guarding the BB/ CV

more important, all TFs with the exception of Hermes are relatively "safe" now, as their detection levels are zero and they are a few turns at most to the off map region

[BBfanboy]

I would not elect for the Bombay option - too many chances of sub interception. There are no subs off-map! Set the ships at cruise speed off-map and they should be OK.
Mombasa (if you have been building the port) is OK for ships to get their minor flooding and system damage down and then it is only a week to get to Cape Town's drydock. If they all go to CT directly, the dock will not be able to handle everything simultaneously anyway. Patience is required when nursing injured patients!

[Jorge_Stanbury]

I need to balance patience with the fact I have some seriously damaged ships withdrawing soon:



CV Indomitable (54 days) = combined damage 83, with nothing above 50, cruise speed 7kts, full speed 14kts:
It is getting off map today, it will head to Mombasa, then withdraw as soon as it has unloaded its precious aircraft cargo

CL Dragon (57 days) = it is in the Pacific, escorting a convoy moving off map, no damage

CL Glasgow (70 days) = combined damage 79, system at 58, cruise speed 11kts, full speed 23kts:
It will need some yard time (either Mombasa or Bombay can do it) to reduce system to less than 50. but since damage is system, it won't require shipyard

CV Formidable (99 days) = combined damage 127 [X(], flood at 57 [X(], cruise speed 4kts, full speed 9kts:
This is a hard decision... can it survive the long road to Mombasa? then another long road to CT? but Bombay is not an option as its shipyard is only 20K capacity
can it get repaired enough to withdraw within the next 99 days? 65 PP daily will be crippling,

So Glasgow is really the only candidate for Bombay...

[Jorge_Stanbury]

A quiet turn in the East. Hermes managed to get in Diego Garcia and refuel. Indomitable Napier and Norman are now off map, and should arrive to Mombasa in 12 days.

Bad news: CA Dorsetshire got multiple flooding events, if this continues next turn I will turn it around to Diego Garcia.
Another bad new: xAP Monterey, a nice 18kts cruise speed liner was torpedoed and sunk (empty) near Los Angeles.

Revenge and 3 undamaged destroyers will move to Bombay to rearm. They will remain there as the only credible deterrence in the Indian ocean until Wasp, PoW, Illustrious, Exeter and others arrive

Formidable and 3 damaged destroyers will start the slow journey to Mombasa. cruise speed is 4knots thanks to the carrier's severe damage. At this point, with all squadrons unloaded, I really don't care if a submarine or a SCTF gets him. Keeping it alive will most likely means many days of PP penalty, so I won't be sad if it sinks.

Glasgow too will go to Bombay, its withdrawal date is getting close.

[Jorge_Stanbury]

While the battle of the Andaman sea is just ending, I can feel a disturbance in the force... a big death star is approaching from the Coral Sea:

The best hint I have about the target is the fact that he is sending recon to Luganville (at 7/10), and not Ndeni... and of course you always want to bombard at high levels of detection to maximize damage

[IdahoNYer]

Based on your base status, the only worthwhile objective to me is Noumea. I don't think the KB could loiter long enough to build up any of the other AFs.

But, if he hasn't done any recon other than Luganville.....and at fort level 2 and 390 AV, that's a very hard target.

Any idea of what size of invasion he can muster? Any likely target seems to have plenty of AV to hold against anything smaller than a multi-division sized attack.

If its not Ndeni, at this late date, this could work out very well for you in the long run - he'll be very exposed to sustain a major long term campaign.

This WILL be interesting!

[Jorge_Stanbury]

At the end it was Ndeni... which is good and bad;

good because it is an irrelevant base, that will eventually be brought back. Moreover, as soon as KB leaves, I will start bombing it to oblivion.

bad because I can't do anything about it, other than evacuation base force using Catalinas. He will "nuke" it tomorrow so trying to disrupt landing won't work. and my airfields are out of range. I wanted to use the USAAF that is idle since P Moresby.

That said... every minute he has the KB there, my subs can get lucky:



next time

To be continued...

[Jorge_Stanbury]

The target of invasion was Ndeni as mentioned in the previous post.

But before that, Indian Ocean news: CA Dorsetshire sunk after multiple flooding events. Another cruiser down [:(] other than that, all quiet. All the other TFs kept moving, slowly, to their destinations

There will be news on the Indian theatre in the next couple weeks, but not yet, positions in India are static, today he tried to do a night bombing attack over Madras, but my P-40s shot down 2 Helen bombers

How big is the invasion? 2 IJA divisions: 21st and 33rd

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Pre-Invasion action off Ndeni (120,143) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

73 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
DD Asagumo
xAP Miike Maru
E Shimushu
TB Hiyodori
xAK Canberra Maru, Shell hits 4
AMC Hokoku Maru

Japanese ground losses:
31 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

DD Asagumo firing at 4th Marine Defense Battalion
4th Marine Defense Battalion firing at DD Asagumo
155mm M1918 GPF Battery engaging xAP Miike Maru at 9,000 yards
TB Hiyodori firing to suppress enemy battery at 9,000 yards
155mm M1918 GPF Battery engaging xAK Canberra Maru at 9,000 yards
TB Hiyodori firing to suppress enemy battery at 9,000 yards
155mm M1918 GPF Battery engaging xAK Canberra Maru at 9,000 yards
TB Hiyodori firing to suppress enemy battery at 9,000 yards
DD Asagumo fired at enemy guns
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 6,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards


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Amphibious Assault at Ndeni (120,143)

TF 198 troops unloading over beach at Ndeni, 120,143

Japanese ground losses:
1279 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 162 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 29 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 6 (0 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)

17 troops of a IJA Inf Squad lost from landing craft during unload of 33rd Div /3
17 troops of a IJA Inf Squad lost in surf during unload of 21st Div /5
17 troops of a IJA Inf Squad accidentally lost during unload of 33rd Div /5
17 troops of a IJA Inf Squad lost in surf during unload of 33rd Div
17 troops of a IJA Inf Squad lost overboard during unload of 33rd Div /9

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Ground combat at Ndeni (120,143)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 954 troops, 40 guns, 5 vehicles, Assault Value = 88

Defending force 5075 troops, 26 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 200

Assaulting units:
2nd Marine Raider Battalion
2nd USMC Parachute Battalion
4th Marine Defense Battalion
15th Base Group

Defending units:
21st Div /6
33rd Div /8


This is a teaser on what is coming to India in the next few weeks... 80 B-17s, 50 P-38, many P-400s, P-40s

[Jorge_Stanbury]

And this is today's status

[jwolf]

ORIGINAL: Jorge_Stanbury


That said... every minute he has the KB there, my subs can get lucky:

next time

To be continued...

Rats, that would have been perfect poetic justice! Hope the next one hits!

[BBfanboy]

Looks like he brought two divisions to Ndeni. Even with 1300 landing casualties, your troops have no chance against that horde. Evacuate cadres and hope the rest can use terrain and forts to hurt his assault before they get crushed.

[Jorge_Stanbury]

Yes I fully agree,
the Cats will start with the base force, but I will take at some cadres from each LCU so that each can reform/ rebuild later on

[Jorge_Stanbury]

Not a lot of news in this turn, invasion of Ndeni continued uneventfully, while there is no news from India

The Catalinas managed to evacuate 638 troops and 6 AA guns on the 1st attempt... they will keep doing it



And surprisingly there was no naval bombardment


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Invasion Support action off Ndeni (120,143) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

41 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
DD Asagumo
AMC Hokoku Maru
AMC Aikoku Maru
APD Hagi
APD Fuji
xAK Canberra Maru, Shell hits 1
TB Tomozuru
xAK Manila Maru, Shell hits 1
E Shimushu
TB Hiyodori

Japanese ground losses:
42 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

4th Marine Defense Battalion firing at DD Asagumo
AMC Hokoku Maru firing at 4th Marine Defense Battalion
4th Marine Defense Battalion firing at AMC Hokoku Maru
4th Marine Defense Battalion firing at AMC Aikoku Maru
AMC Aikoku Maru firing at 4th Marine Defense Battalion
4th Marine Defense Battalion firing at APD Hagi
APD Hagi firing at 4th Marine Defense Battalion
4th Marine Defense Battalion firing at APD Fuji
APD Fuji firing at 4th Marine Defense Battalion
155mm M1918 GPF Battery engaging xAK Canberra Maru at 7,000 yards
TB Tomozuru firing to suppress enemy battery at 7,000 yards
155mm M1918 GPF Battery engaging xAK Manila Maru at 7,000 yards
TB Tomozuru firing to suppress enemy battery at 7,000 yards
155mm M1918 GPF Battery engaging xAK Manila Maru at 7,000 yards
TB Tomozuru firing to suppress enemy battery at 7,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards


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Invasion Support action off Ndeni (120,143)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

40 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
xAK Canberra Maru, Shell hits 2, on fire
APD Hagi
TB Tomozuru
xAK Manila Maru, Shell hits 1
AMC Hokoku Maru
E Shimushu
TB Hiyodori

Japanese ground losses:
63 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

155mm M1918 GPF Battery engaging xAK Canberra Maru at 10,000 yards
TB Tomozuru firing to suppress enemy battery at 10,000 yards
155mm M1918 GPF Battery engaging xAK Manila Maru at 10,000 yards
TB Tomozuru firing to suppress enemy battery at 10,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Ndeni (120,143)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

66 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
xAK Manila Maru
APD Fuji
TB Tomozuru
xAK Kano Maru, Shell hits 1
AMC Hokoku Maru
E Shimushu
TB Hiyodori

Japanese ground losses:
53 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

155mm M1918 GPF Battery engaging xAK Manila Maru at 5,000 yards


Ground combat at Ndeni (120,143)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 954 troops, 40 guns, 5 vehicles, Assault Value = 88

Defending force 15810 troops, 166 guns, 8 vehicles, Assault Value = 432

Assaulting units:
2nd Marine Raider Battalion
2nd USMC Parachute Battalion
4th Marine Defense Battalion
15th Base Group

Defending units:
21st Division
33rd Division
TB Tomozuru firing to suppress enemy battery at 5,000 yards
155mm M1918 GPF Battery engaging xAK Kano Maru at 5,000 yards
TB Tomozuru firing to suppress enemy battery at 5,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 6,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards

[Jorge_Stanbury]

In May 31st, Ndeni fell in the 1st attack; 2 divisions vs. 2 battalions... simply too overwhelming.

And of course, the nuclear BB artillery also contributed, it seems that level 3 fort is not enough...

The following LCUs were destroyed:
2nd Marine Raider Battalion
2nd USMC Parachute Battalion

while I was able to evacuate some devices of 4th Marine Defense Battalion and 15th Base Group.

Japan likely lost two xAKs:
xAK Canberra Maru heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Manila Maru, heavy fires, heavy damage


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Invasion Support action off Ndeni (120,143)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

30 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
xAK Canberra Maru, Shell hits 2, heavy fires
APD Fuji
TB Tomozuru
xAK Kano Maru, Shell hits 1
AMC Hokoku Maru
E Shimushu
TB Hiyodori

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

155mm M1918 GPF Battery engaging xAK Canberra Maru at 8,000 yards
TB Tomozuru firing to suppress enemy battery at 8,000 yards
155mm M1918 GPF Battery engaging xAK Canberra Maru at 8,000 yards
TB Tomozuru firing to suppress enemy battery at 8,000 yards
155mm M1918 GPF Battery engaging xAK Kano Maru at 8,000 yards
TB Tomozuru firing to suppress enemy battery at 8,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards


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Night Naval bombardment of Ndeni at 120,143 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

2 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
BB Kirishima
BB Hiei
CA Myoko
CA Chokai
DD Wakaba
DD Hatsushima
DD Yukikaze
DD Akigumo
DD Yugumo

Allied ground losses:
117 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 4 (2 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 17
Port hits 7

BB Kirishima firing at 4th Marine Defense Battalion
4th Marine Defense Battalion firing at BB Kirishima
BB Hiei firing at Ndeni
F1M2 Pete acting as spotter for CA Myoko
CA Myoko firing at Ndeni
E8N2 Dave acting as spotter for CA Chokai
CA Chokai firing at 4th Marine Defense Battalion
4th Marine Defense Battalion firing at CA Chokai
DD Wakaba firing at 4th Marine Defense Battalion
DD Hatsushima firing at 4th Marine Defense Battalion
DD Yukikaze firing at 4th Marine Defense Battalion
DD Akigumo firing at 4th Marine Defense Battalion
DD Yugumo firing at Ndeni


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Invasion Support action off Ndeni (120,143)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

45 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
xAK Canberra Maru, Shell hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Miike Maru, Shell hits 2
xAK Manila Maru
AMC Hokoku Maru
E Shimushu
TB Hiyodori

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

155mm M1918 GPF Battery engaging xAK Canberra Maru at 6,000 yards
155mm M1918 GPF Battery engaging xAP Miike Maru at 6,000 yards
155mm M1918 GPF Battery engaging xAK Manila Maru at 6,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 5,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards


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Invasion Support action off Ndeni (120,143)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

17 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
AMC Hokoku Maru
E Shimushu
TB Hiyodori

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

Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Ndeni (120,143)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

13 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
xAK Manila Maru, Shell hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
AMC Hokoku Maru

155mm M1918 GPF Battery engaging xAK Manila Maru at 7,000 yards

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Ndeni (120,143)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 18801 troops, 185 guns, 8 vehicles, Assault Value = 432

Defending force 3485 troops, 24 guns, 26 vehicles, Assault Value = 83

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 295

Allied adjusted defense: 69

Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Ndeni !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
285 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 40 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
3472 casualties reported
Squads: 71 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 177 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 22 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 25 (25 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 38 (38 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 4

Assaulting units:
21st Division
33rd Division

Defending units:
2nd Marine Raider Battalion
2nd USMC Parachute Battalion
4th Marine Defense Battalion
15th Base Group

[Jorge_Stanbury]

In June 1st the KB attacked a convoy trying to disembark AA and Tank Destroyers at Luganville. [:@]

It was my fault, I had it moving to Brisbane, but decided I needed it in Luganville... big mistake

Losses:
CL Trenton, xAP Australia Star sunk
xAK Dorissa, xAK Malancha, AMC Westralia damaged and running away, but slow speed means they will be within range for a second day strike [:(]


Other news
- Submarine S-31 tried but failed to hit the Ndeni invasion; 2 DC hits
- USN Carriers will be within strike distance of Wake island tomorrow, I will expand on that later
- I got this tracker message: CA Mikuma Enemy ship sunk Sunk by 15in/42 BL Mk I at 48,59 near Port Blair
who knows, maybe??

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Ambrym at 121,152

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 34 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 67
B5N1 Kate x 9
B5N2 Kate x 70

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 8 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
OS2U-3 Kingfisher: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
DD Laffey
CL Trenton, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
AMC Westralia, Bomb hits 3, on fire
xAK Doryssa, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAP Australia Star, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Malancha, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
DD Woodworth

Allied ground losses:
79 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 7 (1 destroyed, 6 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 10000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
13 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 10000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
9 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 10000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
9 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 10000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
13 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 10000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
13 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 10000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
9 x B5N1 Kate bombing from 10000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

Magazine explodes on CL Trenton
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Doryssa
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Australia Star

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Ndeni at 120,143

Japanese Ships
DD Tokitsukaze
BB Hyuga
BB Ise
CA Mogami
CL Yura
DD Natsushio
DD Kuroshio
DD Asanagi
DD Oite
DD Sagiri

Allied Ships
SS S-31, hits 2

SS S-31 launches 2 torpedoes at DD Tokitsukaze
S-31 bottoming out ....
DD Asanagi attacking submerged sub ....
DD Oite fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Sagiri fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Asanagi fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Oite fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Sagiri fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Oite fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Sagiri fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Sagiri fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Sagiri fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Sagiri fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

[IdahoNYer]

Strange strike package, don't you think?
No Vals and Kates with just bombs...

You caught a break all things considered.

[Jorge_Stanbury]

ORIGINAL: IdahoNYer

Strange strike package, don't you think?
No Vals and Kates with just bombs...

You caught a break all things considered.

Reason was range... strike was from 8 hexes, outside Val range and at extended Kate/ Zero range