HQs - Just some friendly info on HQs. Do you have one of the two India based Command HQs based at Imphal?? This will pull in an extra 25k in supply. Next, have that same Command HQ prep for your next base that you wish to capture (range is 9 hexes). If the "dice gods" favor you in an attack, this can add an extra 90% to your assault value.[X(] Of course having a few Corp HQs prepping for the next series of attacks always helps (10% assault bonus). It is easy to overlook the additional punch that the Allies get from having so many HQs available.
ABDA withdraws in three days. Burma Corps is at Imphal now, but they withdraw in 85 days. Eastern Army is walking from Sinchar to Imphal as we speak ..
IV & III Corps commands are walking slowly into theater...
For the gallery .. the other Indian commands like the Eastern Command [vs. Army]are static ...
Right now I believe the IJ are quite alarmed over events. I do not believe they pushed enough supply from Rangoon and Moulmein up into Mandalay, and will react with all haste to correct this situation. I also believe the IJ have an unbalanced economy right now. Anyway, I had an email exchange explaining how I understand stockpiling works and pushing supply. At least how I was using the strategic flow of supplies in building bases that can horde near the battlespace, and operational flow of supplies as I understood how the game works. The IJ did not build up Swebo nor Mandalay yet for this purpose.
I can say that operations during the monsoon season has burned up tons of supplies. Starting at Bombay I have gone from 1M+ to 500K and this has rippled throughout the system. I am moving the 300K supply reserve from Abadan to Karachi for example. But all of India is producing supplies to be wasted as supply spoilage in pushing supplies into Burma ...
In other news ... the IJN are flooding Pearl Harbor with submarines I think with the notion that the USN CVTF's have to return home to Pearl at sometime fpr refit. I have lots of other options, but certainly repeating history is not a good one [meaning getting a CV wacked at Pearl Harbor ..]. I do have three ASW TF's with decent commanders patroling the waters looking for submarines. maybe we can cull the pack.
More later ..
OK I await the turn ..
"What gets us into trouble is not what we don't know. It's what we know for sure that just ain't so"
While waiting for the turn I thought I would post a map of the situaiton in Burma with Swebo in Allied hands. The next steps are very clear. Cut the rail line from Mandalay to Lashio. This can involve zero combat and is not dependent on supplies to accomplish [with the exception of starving units morale, and the effects of Malaria on starving/disrupted units]. Getting this rail line cut begins a "Stalingrad" like situation [except its a lot warmer in Burma] for the IJA forces north of Mandalay and occupying South China.
This sets up a push in '43 ...
Attachments
SweboFallen.jpg (568.31 KiB) Viewed 338 times
"What gets us into trouble is not what we don't know. It's what we know for sure that just ain't so"
Well I cannot figure this error out and I have searched the forum. One thing, that is different that I noticed. Bhamo is occupied by the IJA, but the base has not changed hands. [see where the 200 AV is pointing to and no IJ flag yet even after 2 days and wining the battle ..]
Resetting the database and starting a new directory produces the same error. There is some inconsistancy in the WitP-AE datafile that WitPStaff does not like and errors ...I am thinking that the inconsistnacy at Bhamo is doing the trick but I am not sure ...[:(]
I like WitPStaff over Tracker for visualizing where ships that need to be upgraded are ...
Attachments
WitPStaffError.jpg (28.5 KiB) Viewed 338 times
"What gets us into trouble is not what we don't know. It's what we know for sure that just ain't so"
Allied Ships
SS Sunfish
Captain of SS Sunfish elects not to launch torpedoes at this target
Sunfish diving deep ....
Then our DD's around PH decide to take sightseeing cruises ignoring the Submarines around them ..
ASW attack near Pearl Harbor at 179,107
Japanese Ships
SS I-33
Allied Ships
DD Lansdowne
SS I-33 is sighted by escort
DD Lansdowne fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
...............
ASW attack near Lihue at 178,107
Japanese Ships
SS I-33
Allied Ships
DD Aylwin
DD Sims
SS I-33 is sighted by escort
I-33 diving deep ....
Then the Gwin finds its prey. The animation described critical hits, fires below, flooding, and I hear the eery sound of a Sub settling into Davy Jones' locker ..[8D]
ASW attack near Lihue at 178,107
Japanese Ships
SS I-33, hits 5
Allied Ships
DD Gwin
DD Lansdowne
DD Monssen
SS I-33 is located by DD Gwin
We shall see if some miracle occurs here and this one escapes ..
One last little ASW tibit ..
OS2U-3 Kingfisher from VS-1D11 attacking a Type KD6A class SS at 138,132 a Type K5 class SS is reported HIT
The airwar was the same ol' stuff. Lilly bombing Swebo at night.
We do find the 5th Division, surviors of the 74 Infantry Rgt, and the 93rd JAAF AF at Mandalay
Morning Air attack on 5th Division, at 59,46 (Mandalay)
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 9
B-25C Mitchell x 16
As the Allies, you have plenty of AKs. I would set up one or two TF that go from Eastern USA to Cape Town. Then you can distribute from there.
I listened early [8D] I have enough AK's at CT to keep pace with the fuel coming from Abadan ..and the short legged TK's keep India happy ..but as always advice is most welcome in this thread ..
"What gets us into trouble is not what we don't know. It's what we know for sure that just ain't so"
I was referring to moving large amounts of supply from USA to Cape Town. Add in, no subs to worry about.[;)]
Ahhh...!!!! OK .. have not thought of this ..!![&o]
The contraint thus far has been fuel and not supply. The 75 ships moving stuff to the land of Oz [38 in port right now] have burned down fuel as low as 40K. A TK convoy has just topped off CT. Yet I from the regular convoys I have close to 900K supply. Basically I do not have the fuel to keep enough ships fueled up to move the supply I current have there ..
I think I understand your point in that soon I will have 5 more TK's to move fuel to CT and thus will support another 20 - 30 xAK's .. I will move some to CT will supply ..
Attachments
CT.jpg (267.29 KiB) Viewed 338 times
"What gets us into trouble is not what we don't know. It's what we know for sure that just ain't so"
I use all my dual capacity xAK/AKs as tankers (Euro K, Euro L, C3-E, C2 Cargo). Its easy to get supplies moved around, but fuel is always a challenge and those damn warships can suck a port dry in a heart beat. [:D] The war of logistics can really be costly, even as the Allies.
OT - I'm getting ready to start a PBEM game as Allies with RA mod, so I have to find some notes and other info that was important last time I played the Allies so I don't have to relearn some important stuff. Not game changing info, just things like using those little Port Service units wisely and don't let them get stuck in a base that is now large enough not to need them.
I was referring to moving large amounts of supply from USA to Cape Town. Add in, no subs to worry about.[;)]
Ahhh...!!!! OK .. have not thought of this ..!![&o]
The contraint thus far has been fuel and not supply. The 75 ships moving stuff to the land of Oz [38 in port right now] have burned down fuel as low as 40K. A TK convoy has just topped off CT. Yet I from the regular convoys I have close to 900K supply. Basically I do not have the fuel to keep enough ships fueled up to move the supply I current have there ..
I think I understand your point in that soon I will have 5 more TK's to move fuel to CT and thus will support another 20 - 30 xAK's .. I will move some to CT will supply ..
I had enough large AKs to run three 12-15 ship convoys from the East Coast to Cape Town. For the first year of the war they were running fuel on a constant basis. They only carry half a load but what the heck, the extra fuel got me through the lean times. You are right in that supply was never too much of an issue. India makes plenty of supply and by mid 43 supply starts to flood into Aden.
Well everybody has contributed much in this thread. Alfred came by early to provide guidance but I think he has left me on to my own [8D] But NY59Giants and Crsutton continue to leave excellent tibits that seem to always apply to the situation at hand ..thanks guys![&o]
This turn we turned loose every single 4E & 2E bomber .. we shall see who flys to targets but Mandalay troops,;Port Moresby port and airfield; Tulgi Port; and Jaluit port will feel the wrath of the Boeing Gods ...[and some British manufactures of airframes too [:D] ]
Burma changed quite dramtically this turn .. Akyab healed and so we moved 2 squadrons on CAP there .. and shifted the RAF 224 forces to Cox Bazzar & Akyab. 221 is at Sinchar and Imphal . with Base forces moving to Swebo & Katha ... 222 is at Jorhat and Ledo ..225 is all at Ceylon now ... we are prepping for a fight here in '43 ..
With Tarawa a level 4 Base [soon to be level 5] we moved B-25's here .. soon we will have 4E's and 2E's actively projecting power into the Marshall's ..
In Oz we catch and shock the remements of the 19th Ind Bdge ..I suspect the Lily's will bomb us in the open ..
The CENPAC is all about gathering forces from our Makin landing which completed last turn. We moved 3 Squadrons of Fighters, a CAT squadron , and DB's in this turn. We should be ready for the next island in November ..
SOPAC is preparing for a '43 Solomon's campaign. Just in case this issue is forced. Even if we clean out the Marshall's early, neither Truk/Carolines or the Marianas are possible targets in '43 IMHO. The lack of CV support is a real issue and there are big gaps in LBA ranges. We can certainly esablish 4E projection into the battlespace which is the plan for the Solomons and Marshalls ...
More later ...
"What gets us into trouble is not what we don't know. It's what we know for sure that just ain't so"
Manpower hits 6
Fires 11998
Airbase hits 15
Airbase supply hits 7
Runway hits 23
Port hits 2
Port fuel hits 2
Port supply hits 1
BB Hyuga firing at Akyab
BB Ise firing at Akyab
BB Yamashiro firing at Akyab
BB Fuso firing at Akyab
Worse my Dive Bombers at Cox's Bazzar had a perfect target as the BB's as the dawn broke ...but for weather [8|]
Ok The IJ are not going to let me use Akayb ..
Night Air attack on Shwebo , at 59,45
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid spotted at 6 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 1 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 10
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 2 damaged
Runway hits 1
IN other news in Burma:
Here is what exists at Mandalay:
Also attacking 55th Division ...
Also attacking 5th Division ...
Also attacking 8th Tank Regiment ...
Also attacking 15th Army ...
Also attacking 77th Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 55th Division ...
Also attacking 10th Tank Regiment ...
Also attacking 5th Division ...
Also attacking 8th Tank Regiment
Morning Air attack on 8th Tank Regiment, at 59,46 (Mandalay)
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes
Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 16
B-25C Mitchell x 16
Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 1 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
79 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
............................
Morning Air attack on 77th Infantry Regiment, at 59,46 (Mandalay)
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes
Allied aircraft
Blenheim I x 9
Blenheim IV x 31
Hurricane IIb Trop x 16
Liberator II x 14
Wellington Ic x 16
139WH-3 x 8
B-25C Mitchell x 32
Actually I executed this very very poorly ... I should have put 2 units in pursuit 2 units to attack. As it is the IJA exchange 500 LYB's for space and a free retreat ..
CENPAC:
Morning Air attack on Jaluit , at 134,120
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 45
B-17F Fortress x 15
Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
SS RO-34, Bomb hits 5, and is sunk
Port hits 9
Port fuel hits 2
Port supply hits 5
Morning Air attack on Jaluit , at 134,120
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-17F Fortress x 9
Allied aircraft losses
B-17F Fortress: 1 damaged
Afternoon Air attack on Jaluit , at 134,120
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid spotted at 2 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 0 minutes
Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 17
SBD-3 Dauntless x 12
No Allied losses
Port hits 1
So for todays battles we lose 2 squadrons to a BB attack at Akyab ....but really sink SS RO-34 ...
Previous report of sinking of SS RO-34 incorrect. Ship sighted and engaged at 134, 120 SS RO-34 is reported to have been sunk near Jaluit on Oct 09, 1942
Ok more later ..
"What gets us into trouble is not what we don't know. It's what we know for sure that just ain't so"
Given the ground losses I have taken a very close look at WitP Tracker.
The good news is that the Aussies are producing 55 squads per month and in 4 months I will have built out the destroyed units .. that does not count upgrading the units ...
The Indian units are building out at a rate of 48 squads per month and destroyed squads would be be rebuilt in 2 years! [1046 squads needed!] That is given no more losses . which is not possible ..
The brits are building out at a paltry 18 squads per month and to rebuild losses is will take 7 months ..
Again this is not counting any more losses .. which is going to happen ....
So we progress with what we have knowning we will never have enough ...[;)]
"What gets us into trouble is not what we don't know. It's what we know for sure that just ain't so"
Burma - Where are your armored units?? They should be headed for Mandalay. Even though their Assault Value is not great, they will eat the Japanese Tank Rgt for lunch. Japan has very poor Anti-Tank devices and their tanks suck. Add in placing some of those large AA Rgt/Bde and they will keep his bombers at a higher altitude. My Allied opponent is keeping most of his air force grounded and advancing with massive AA units with his troops. My two Tank Divisions cannot stand up to over 12 armored units of various size.
I would disband some of your infantry brigades to keep your divisions at full strength. In combat, they take a higher rate of losses than a division when used to attack and some are best just for garrison and defensive use only.
Burma - Where are your armored units?? They should be headed for Mandalay. Even though their Assault Value is not great, they will eat the Japanese Tank Rgt for lunch. Japan has very poor Anti-Tank devices and their tanks suck. Add in placing some of those large AA Rgt/Bde and they will keep his bombers at a higher altitude. My Allied opponent is keeping most of his air force grounded and advancing with massive AA units with his troops. My two Tank Divisions cannot stand up to over 12 armored units of various size.
I would disband some of your infantry brigades to keep your divisions at full strength. In combat, they take a higher rate of losses than a division when used to attack and some are best just for garrison and defensive use only.
My armored units are headed to the railway first .. and then to Mandalay .. 100% prepped ...[;)] I do not want to cross the river and shcok attack ..
I agree with your point . a couple of full TO&E sized divisions is better than all the fragement of divisons I currently have now .. but I paid the PP's [&:] For now I am thinking of shutting off replacements for some units and put them on garrison duty.
Now to get a feel of the battle .. right now IV Ind Corps to moving to cut the North Railline to Lashio and isolate about 20K LYB while securing the Eastern Mandalay hex sides. This will mean not having to shock attack across a river. In the meantime I bought out two depleted Indian Divisions and have begun a trek to secure the Western side of the Irrawaddy River. Given the time it takes to move at 4 miles per day about 300 miles this will take until December to get into position. I suspect this map will look very different as I cannot see the IJ not bringing in at least a Corps to secure Burma.
In the meantime, I will cutoff the forces to the north and destroy them. The possibility of opening the road to China must be very alarming to the Emporor.
Attachments
BurmaOct10th.jpg (536.44 KiB) Viewed 338 times
"What gets us into trouble is not what we don't know. It's what we know for sure that just ain't so"
The map below shows at least when forces will be prepped for the attack and when I think I can be ready to strike. I would like to take Jaluit and Milli sometime around the end of November with an operation that takes them at the same time. Both would be in CAP range of CV's. I have superimposed the current buildout of these atolls. It is quite possible to clean out the Marshall's by Mid June '43.
So far the Gilbert's plan has been working. Very soon Tarawa will be able to house 4E's and so will Makin. This has been always my contention that the IJ cannot build enough bases out here in the Marshall's. and the Gilberts offers enough level 5 bases to allow 4E's to rain terror on the atolls. The IJ does have two very elite fighter groups out here that will have to be managed at great cost.
But the next stage .. . the Marianas will take quite a few more Essex class carriers and cannot be taken in '43 IMHO... maybe that will be the time to engage SoPac into the Solomon's [&:]
Attachments
CENPAC.jpg (314.56 KiB) Viewed 338 times
"What gets us into trouble is not what we don't know. It's what we know for sure that just ain't so"
*********************************** 10 OCT 42 *******************************
The KB is hanging out just north of Eniwetok . I wonder what they are up to these days ?? There is a lot of dead space I can only see with submarines, which happend this turn ..[8D]
Ok they come looking for trouble and force the Halibut to dive away ..
ASW attack near Taihoku at 89,62
Japanese Ships
PB Nanei Maru
Allied Ships
SS Halibut
The Drayton finds a IJN submarine and puts 3 hits on her 2 critical engine hits ..
ASW attack near Tabiteuea at 138,132
Japanese Ships
SS I-166, hits 3
Allied Ships
DD Drayton
DD Cassin
SS I-166 is located by DD Drayton
The IJ are setting up for a bombardment mission on Cox's Bazzar evidenced by more contacts with a SAG 8 hexes away .. in the meantime Betty's come calling and meet thier fate as local CAP seeks revenge ..
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Cox's Bazar at 54,43
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 30 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes
Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 9
Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 7
Hurricane IIc Trop x 18
Kittyhawk I x 1
Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 5 destroyed
FLT Sanders, J.G. of No.615 Sqn RAF is credited with kill number 2
WO Bedford, A.W. of No.135 Sqn RAF is credited with kill number 3
WO Bedford, A.W. of No.135 Sqn RAF is credited with kill number 4
FO Greenwell M. of No.135 Sqn RAF is credited with kill number 7
WO Davis, F.W.T. of No.136 Sqn RAF is credited with kill number 3
WO Wilding, F.E. of No.136 Sqn RAF is credited with kill number 4
O Bunting, K. of No.136 Sqn RAF is credited with kill number 4
No Allied losses
Allied Ships
KV Jasmine
This has to smart a bit .. this would leave very few Betty's here until he builds more ..It says here 5 kills but only one damaged Betty tried to attack out of 9 ..
INTEL: 2/138th Infantry Regiment is loaded on a Ansyu-C Cargo class xAK moving to Singapore.
I am going to assume these guys are headed to Burma through the long way or .. are joining up with the parent ..
Ok more later ..
"What gets us into trouble is not what we don't know. It's what we know for sure that just ain't so"
Don't know if you really need to take more than a base or two in the Marshals. If you have Wake, then take Kusaie Island and Ponape then you pretty much can leave the rest to starve as that really will mean the end of Japanese ships moving supply to the Islands. I took Makin, Ponape, Wake, Kusaie and just ignored the rest. But that was attacking from the Solomons where I am well established.
Thing is, if your carrier force is intact then it is not a good place for Japan to risk a fight. Too far from home for that, and not really worth it.
Don't know if you really need to take more than a base or two in the Marshals. If you have Wake, then take Kusaie Island and Ponape then you pretty much can leave the rest to starve as that really will mean the end of Japanese ships moving supply to the Islands. I took Makin, Ponape, Wake, Kusaie and just ignored the rest. But that was attacking from the Solomons where I am well established.
Thing is, if your carrier force is intact then it is not a good place for Japan to risk a fight. Too far from home for that, and not really worth it.
That is my thought exactly .. 1. Not a lot of IJ bases and I am well esablished here; 2. My CV's are intact supported now by a lot of LBA; 3. I am catching stuff trying to support operations out here ..
I am thinking of taking Roi-Numur only because he has built this into a worthy base and while I am staving him Mavis' will be prowling ..
"What gets us into trouble is not what we don't know. It's what we know for sure that just ain't so"
[/center]
