Spanking Lowpe (NJP72 vs Lowpe (A))

[Lowpe]

Need more radar here at Swatow...and I just transferred in 2 squadrons of Lightnings (which were standing down resting after relocation, I almost never fly a mission after relocating). But we got some Airacobras here...unfortunately I had range set to 2 or 3, instead of 0...I was worried about our offshore shipping concentrations. Not watching the replay, not really sure but I guess quite a few planes were in another hex....but it looks like we got one Judy before they began their attack runs. Now I have to get some low cap there and more radar. Only one set there right now if that plays a role....only a few ships equipped with radar present (3 counting the one that sunk).

I went back and double checked, the Kamikaze raid yesterday with 2 Fletchers and one radar set at the base gave us 49+ minutes of warning. Hmmm::

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 176 NM, estimated altitude 31,480 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes
____________________________________________
Todays attack:

Morning Air attack on TF, near Swatow at 81,62

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 49 NM, estimated altitude 36,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
D4Y1-C Judy x 4
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 11


Allied Ships
DD Porter, Kamikaze hits 3, and is sunk

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x D4Y1-C Judy flying as kamikaze

Possibly germane to this issue - the Porter class were designed to counter the main gun batteries on other 'super-destroyers' like the German Z class and the Fubukis. Their gun mount did not allow enough elevation to use in the AA role - where the 5"/38 excelled. So all Porter had for air defence was the medium and light AA.

Good point about it being weak on AAA but given the other attacks, especially the one attack against Langley with 8 Fletchers, An Essex and a Baltmore class ....they couldn't stop a single kamikaze either. I think it was 5 in that case....I think so far I have lost four DD, CVL, xak and a patrol craft or two to kamikazes....what seems to work well is when they struck a fairly large merchant convoy they spread out their attacks against multiple ships and I only lost one. That is not a way to handle this threat

[Lowpe]

Turn is finished and away....first large scale bombing attacks targeting Changsha at night with our radar equipped heavies and the B24d1, while the B24Js of the 10th Air Force are hitting Shanghai industry during the day. The runway there is 100% damaged now (which really is the airport service). We have multiple sweeps, at multiple altitudes from multiple closer bases with multiple different airframes).

Almost ready to shock into Hong Kong....Command HQ at 100%, two smaller HQs, and 3 divisions into a one division plus defense with probably size 6 forts. Canton should also be threatened as it seems Japan is retreating some troops out of Wuchow to the northwest. We have been attriting Japan's fighters, but still have to worry about cap traps as the runway at Hong Kong is now function even if the airport services are damaged.

Didn't get a lot really done this turn, as irl I got my first Grandson, everyone is healthy, and very relieved as the pregnancy was difficult. While that was going on I was shepherding my ancient Father thru the hospital system in a rush to get a severe pulmonary embolism treated...that operation concluded with very satisfying results and we hope to get some more years...he is sharp as a tack, and no walker or cane yet. He was in flight training with the USAF pre Korean War, when he got recruited out by a defense contractor to join the working world....with a wife and baby he made the decision to follow the money and quit flying. Thirty years with that company...which is super hard to do in todays USA.

So, if my hastily finished turn works out ok, it will be a trifecta!

[RangerJoe]

Well, congratulations on your grandson even though your part in that was many years ago!

I wish your father well, I hope that he does see many more years with good health.

If you need to, let your opponent know so he may be understanding if the turns come a little slower.

Stay safe.

[Lowpe]

Feb 10th, 1944

Night bombing of Changsha with no DL fails to score any hits. Severe storms, moonlight 96 today, waning, radar equipped bombers

Night bombing with only 2 squadrons at Nanking, with no dl, scores 1 hit for 3 destroyed LI. Severe storms moonlight 96 today waning no radar equipped bombers

Daytime bombing of Shanhai with 9 DL, goes in after the sweeps: 106 HI destroyed and 1 LI. Severe storms

One B24J lost and one B24d1 lost.

Big raid:

Morning Air attack on Shanghai , at 92,55

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 69 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 26
B-24J Liberator x 82

Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 2 damaged

Heavy Industry hits 43

Effective raid:

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 71 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 24 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 24

No Allied losses

Heavy Industry hits 36

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[DesertWolf101]

Turn is finished and away....first large scale bombing attacks targeting Changsha at night with our radar equipped heavies and the B24d1, while the B24Js of the 10th Air Force are hitting Shanghai industry during the day. The runway there is 100% damaged now (which really is the airport service). We have multiple sweeps, at multiple altitudes from multiple closer bases with multiple different airframes).

Almost ready to shock into Hong Kong....Command HQ at 100%, two smaller HQs, and 3 divisions into a one division plus defense with probably size 6 forts. Canton should also be threatened as it seems Japan is retreating some troops out of Wuchow to the northwest. We have been attriting Japan's fighters, but still have to worry about cap traps as the runway at Hong Kong is now function even if the airport services are damaged.

Didn't get a lot really done this turn, as irl I got my first Grandson, everyone is healthy, and very relieved as the pregnancy was difficult. While that was going on I was shepherding my ancient Father thru the hospital system in a rush to get a severe pulmonary embolism treated...that operation concluded with very satisfying results and we hope to get some more years...he is sharp as a tack, and no walker or cane yet. He was in flight training with the USAF pre Korean War, when he got recruited out by a defense contractor to join the working world....with a wife and baby he made the decision to follow the money and quit flying. Thirty years with that company...which is super hard to do in todays USA.

So, if my hastily finished turn works out ok, it will be a trifecta!

Why shock into Hong Kong? You can just march in, there is no river.

[Lowpe]

Air losses for the day:

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I am countering the stacked CAP Japan is using by sweeping with P40s around 10-12k, Spitfires between 12-20k, and Corsairs and Jugs up high. Seems to work well, with even the P40s doing well

Morning Air attack on Nanning , at 72,55

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 24 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 1
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 1

Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 20

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M8 Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-IV Oscar: 1 destroyed

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
19 x P-40K Warhawk sweeping at 10000 feet

CAP engaged:
Hosho-1 with A6M8 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 8000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 8000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 3 minutes
64th Sentai with Ki-43-IV Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 28000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 28000.
Raid is overhead

[Lowpe]

I lost those P40N5s over Wuchow on LRCAP....they didn't show up in any combat report. I can recall using sweeper planes to fly LRCAP over Allied bases and inflicting losses on the active enemy airbase...

Our first sweep of the day at Wuchow....our nightbombers put 15 hits on the runway and destroyed some fighters on the ground:

Morning Air attack on Wuchow , at 76,57

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 46,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 2
Ki-43-IV Oscar x 4
Ki-84r Frank x 4

Allied aircraft
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IV Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-84r Frank: 3 destroyed

No Allied losses

[Lowpe]

Progress on Luzon

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[Lowpe]

Turn is finished and away....first large scale bombing attacks targeting Changsha at night with our radar equipped heavies and the B24d1, while the B24Js of the 10th Air Force are hitting Shanghai industry during the day. The runway there is 100% damaged now (which really is the airport service). We have multiple sweeps, at multiple altitudes from multiple closer bases with multiple different airframes).

Almost ready to shock into Hong Kong....Command HQ at 100%, two smaller HQs, and 3 divisions into a one division plus defense with probably size 6 forts. Canton should also be threatened as it seems Japan is retreating some troops out of Wuchow to the northwest. We have been attriting Japan's fighters, but still have to worry about cap traps as the runway at Hong Kong is now function even if the airport services are damaged.

Didn't get a lot really done this turn, as irl I got my first Grandson, everyone is healthy, and very relieved as the pregnancy was difficult. While that was going on I was shepherding my ancient Father thru the hospital system in a rush to get a severe pulmonary embolism treated...that operation concluded with very satisfying results and we hope to get some more years...he is sharp as a tack, and no walker or cane yet. He was in flight training with the USAF pre Korean War, when he got recruited out by a defense contractor to join the working world....with a wife and baby he made the decision to follow the money and quit flying. Thirty years with that company...which is super hard to do in todays USA.

So, if my hastily finished turn works out ok, it will be a trifecta!

Why shock into Hong Kong? You can just march in, there is no river.

Hah! For some reason I thought there was a river crossing....memory is going!

[Lowpe]

Shanghai recon after massed daylight bombing targeting mostly HI, about 200 heavy bombers in bad weather and good DL.

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[Lowpe]

If you need to, let your opponent know so he may be understanding if the turns come a little slower.

Stay safe.

Done

[Gnack]

Didn't get a lot really done this turn, as irl I got my first Grandson, everyone is healthy, and very relieved as the pregnancy was difficult. While that was going on I was shepherding my ancient Father thru the hospital system in a rush to get a severe pulmonary embolism treated...that operation concluded with very satisfying results and we hope to get some more years...he is sharp as a tack, and no walker or cane yet. He was in flight training with the USAF pre Korean War, when he got recruited out by a defense contractor to join the working world....with a wife and baby he made the decision to follow the money and quit flying. Thirty years with that company...which is super hard to do in todays USA.

So, if my hastily finished turn works out ok, it will be a trifecta!

Congratulations on your grandson and I hope your father recovers well

[BBfanboy]

Didn't get a lot really done this turn, as irl I got my first Grandson, everyone is healthy, and very relieved as the pregnancy was difficult. While that was going on I was shepherding my ancient Father thru the hospital system in a rush to get a severe pulmonary embolism treated...that operation concluded with very satisfying results and we hope to get some more years...he is sharp as a tack, and no walker or cane yet. He was in flight training with the USAF pre Korean War, when he got recruited out by a defense contractor to join the working world....with a wife and baby he made the decision to follow the money and quit flying. Thirty years with that company...which is super hard to do in todays USA.

So, if my hastily finished turn works out ok, it will be a trifecta!

Congratulations on your grandson and I hope your father recovers well

Ditto!

[Lowpe]

The game engine punishes players that crowd runways:

Night Air attack on Wuchow , at 76,57

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 4 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 1 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Wellington B.X x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-84r Frank: 2 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
Wellington B.X: 1 damaged

Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 15

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Wellington B.X bombing from 5000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

[Lowpe]

thanks Gnack and BB...

[Lowpe]

Feb 11, 1944

Japan counter attacks at Shaohing....next to Ningpo. We have forts, and wood terrain, plus shore bombardments going for us. Also arriving is a battery of 25# guns before the attack. The presence of the 1st Tank Division means we need to assign bombers to help blunt the attack. Our prep is 20-50 with an adjacent HQc. The 4th USMC Tank Btn has Shermans. Not sure if Japan has the improved medium tanks yet or not.

More troops are marching from Ningpo to Shaohing...and still arriving at Ningpo is three more divisions, one Yank, one Australian, and one African. Unloading today is another large 36AV USN Seabee unit with 50 or so bulldozers. There is five more of those units being ferried in from Foochow...

Ground combat at Shaohing (91,56)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 2178 troops, 206 guns, 114 vehicles, Assault Value = 1326
Defending force 10123 troops, 158 guns, 251 vehicles, Assault Value = 582

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

Assaulting units:
14th Division
1st Tank Division
23rd Division
58th Infantry Regiment
7th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
12th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
4th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
9th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
26th Field Artillery Regiment
22nd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
5th RF Gun Battalion

Defending units:
4th USMC Tank Battalion
1st Australian Division
766th Tank Battalion
111th LRP Bde /1

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[Lowpe]

Mistake on the night bombing from above graphic...corrected graphic below.

Changsha is the only major industry in China left not damaged within normal range...it shouldn't take too long to reduce all the minor LI spots, but most of that is already damaged. Trick is to do it without losing airplanes.

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[Lowpe]

The excitement this turn is how well our Shermans do against the 1st Tank Division at Shaohing....we are outnumbered, but they have to attack thru a 4 Cruiser bombardment, some night bombing of the runways (designed to increase the DL for the bombardment), lots of sweeps and some bombing if our sweeps go first. We also have a btln of 25# artillery arriving in combat mode to help and of course the woods terrain and our forts 1-2. 3 Divisions enroute to Ningpo...but I really want to hold by the skin of our teeth and do other things.

[CaptBeefheart]

Congratulations on your grandson, and good to hear your father is recovering.

So, a guy gets real busy at work, then takes his family to Osaka and Kyoto, and then comes back to see a heck of a lot of activity on his favorite AAR. I took some notes as I caught up this morning and have a few questions and comments:

1. I picked up you were doing some barge and LCI training. I know you like role-playing, but I'm curious as to why you'd do that.

2. I saw the opsec breach. Did you sort that out? Hopefully it was a mistake. Or is that why you sometimes surprise us with operations?

3. I've probably asked this, but please refresh my memory as to how you picked up Allied strategic losses to the tune of about 1000 VPs.

4. Regarding his single ship TFs doing a fair amount of damage, from doing the Manila Scatter numerous times as an AFB on Dec. 8 (speaking of click fatigue), only carrier air seems to work well at getting them, unless a surface force stumbles into the single ship (or a sub on an xAK).

5. You may have tried to put an amphibious corps HQ, which is a regular corps, on an AGC bound for Kagi, rather than an amphibious force HQ. The word "amphibious" can make it confusing. Also, in general you want to keep that HQ on the ship and in the invasion hex as long as you're dropping stuff off in a contested hex. It doesn't help being on the ground, unless you need extra support squads for something.

6. The FM-2 has one good thing going for it: It's better than an FM-1.

7. Taking Tsushima can be helpful for several reasons, one is if you inadvertently send a TF past it it'll get shredded by the CDs (same for the Shimonoseki Straits; you have to be careful around there). I've found dropping the 503rd Paras and probably at least a couple of para battalions or an LRP does the trick, as the force there is infantry weak. Invading it over the beach is almost like invading Truk, though.

8. When it comes to countering kamis, have you tried airfield suppression?

9. Unless there are a lot of VPs to be had, I wouldn't devote too many forces to cleaning up the rear. Attack! Attack! Attack!

Cheers,
CB

[Lowpe]

Feb 12, 1944

No attack at Shaohing...

Destroyed 8 LI at Nanning....

Neglect allowed a convoy to steam super close to Babeldaob and away from our air protection:

Morning Air attack on TF, near Morotai at 84,98

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 38,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 19
J1N1-C Irving x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
J1N1-C Irving: 3 destroyed
J1N1-C Irving: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
xAK William S. Young
xAK Cape Friendship, Kamikaze hits 4, and is sunk

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x J1N1-C Irving flying as kamikaze