Rookie II - Saving MacArthur - against opponent no. 5

[Leandros]

March 13th 1945

The Japanese defenders have been driven out of Sandakan and its surroundings. A fighter strip is established and Marine fighter units are in place. As part of the northward advance along the north-eastern coast of Borneo the enemy bases of Miri and Jesselton are about to be neutralized by allied fighter and bomber units operating from Tandjoengselor, Tawi Tawi, Tapil and now from Sandakan, too.

Allied heavy bombers, including B-29s, are flying nightly mining sorties from bases in Dutch East India against Miri and Jesselton. This has seemingly complicated the enemy’s naval operations as his carrier forces have been passive the last couple of days. Enemy night fighters are trying to intercept the allied bombers but with little luck as P-70 and Hellcat night fighters are patrolling the target areas heavily.

A unit of US Navy anti-sub destroyers clashed with an enemy cruiser force outside Jesselton during the night, one allied ship was sunk but the enemy force turned back.

We have seen developments on Java, too. After the capture of Banjoewangi the advance towards Soerebaja was stopped by an enemy blocking position between Banjoewangi and Probolingo. From the previous Marine beachhead east of Loemadjang the powerful US Army contingent which helped to free up the surrounded Marine units there, have since traversed difficult terrain to Loemadjang and expelled the much reduced Japanese defenders which withdrew north to Probolingo. In Loemadjang, the Allies found excellent airfield facilities. The enemy is expected to make his final stand in Probolingo and Malang on the northern side of the island.

Fred

[BBfanboy]

Thanks for the update Fred. First time I have seen an advance follow the NE coast of Borneo, but I guess the Allies have the ships, planes and land units to pull it off.
Hope you stick it out to the end so we can see where you end up.

[Leandros]

Thank you, BB, always nice with feedback. That I have selected to proceed along that route is mainly a question of "hitting them where they ain't". My opponents have always managed to maintain superiority in carrier forces which makes it difficult to take the leap from the Marshalls northward safely even if I have full control of the Marshalls.

If I have enough resources to turn the north-eastern corner of Borneo anytime soon shall be seen but the capture of the Jolos and Sandakan came with minor losses in Marines. This is purely a USMC operation.

On Java, however, US Army has participated in relieving the Marines in their beachhead east of Loemadjang. These MC forces shall eventually be withdrawn to reinforce the Borneo offensive, then the Java offensive shall become purely US Army. The Army forces which recently captured Loemadjang shall probably advance north to Probolingo where I expect the Japanese shall make a stand with reinforcements from Soerebaja, as well.

I, too, hope that I shall be able to get to finish the game but both my opponent and myself are feeling the stress of ever more details to take care of as the game expands. Also, I do not consider that it can be justified to start another game with me turning 80 in May. Time to start preparing oneself, if you see what I mean...

This PBEM has gone on since June 2018.

Fred

[Leandros]

Hi, guys!

As I mentioned in my previous post both my opponent and myself experience some wear and tear due to the increased complexity of the game as the war intensifies and expands. I shouldn't have taken this up as only today my opponent expressed a desire to be relieved of his duties if possible, due to various reasons.

I do not blame my Australian mate, he has been extremely reliable but, as opposed to me, has a regular job and family to consider (well, I do have family, too, but, I believe, with perhaps a somewhat lighter load). I have therefore promised to look around for a replacement for him.

With this I put up an offer to those of you who would like take over the Japanese side of a WitP PBEM which has reached March 13th 1945. You would be my 5th opponent (yes, I have worn down four now) - the last one has kept up the longest, several years, actually. We have generally finished the turns within one day each but this has never been an expressed demand.

If any interest, I shall establish contact for you with my present opponent, I believe he is the best to give you a run-down on the general situation in the game and how the Japanese side stands. Enough to say is that the Japanese have upheld a marked superiority in carriers and capital ships through the game and have scores of very experienced fighter and bomber pilots, something I have not taken seriously enough.

This is your chance to turn the tide for the proud Japanese nation - even to eventually be nuked!

Line up, boys!

Fred

[BBfanboy]

Can't help with being an IJ opponent Fred, but I suggest you copy your post and put it in the Opponents Wanted section if you haven't already done so.

[Leandros]

Can't help with being an IJ opponent Fred, but I suggest you copy your post and put it in the Opponents Wanted section if you haven't already done so.

I'm on my way. Thank you!

Fred

[Diliwitm]

I posted in opponents wanted in case you aren't following it.

[Leandros]

Hi, Dili, I am waiting for a confirmation from my opponent. Cld we communicate on regular mail? my address is; hfjs10@hotmail.com

Regds
Fred

[Diliwitm]

Yeah when i was in this game we sent mail each other. So you have mine
I have sent you an email 1-2 days ago.

[Leandros]

Hi, everybody, I had hopes to get Dili onboard but we could not agree on a house rule - fair enough.

I shall, however, try some more but for eventual interested parties - no house rules!

Fred

[anarchyintheuk]

Hope you find someone. It's been a great read.

[Leandros]

Hope you find someone. It's been a great read.

Thank you for your kind support! I have, however, more or less resigned to fact that no new opponents shall turn up, which isn't so strange considering the stage this game is in. His would necessarily have to be an uphill struggle.

Turning 80 in May it might be as well to round it off, to use time on more sensible projects. Like what? I do not know.

Keep up the good work everybody!

Fred
------

[Sammy5IsAlive]

Hi Fred,

A lot of people pick up games off Discord now I think - this is the link to what I think is the biggest WITPAE community on there.

https://discord.gg/v4A9STzW7R

If you don't use Discord the mod is BananaConvention on here - https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/memb ... e&u=166191 - If you PM him maybe he could post something on there to see if he could find you an opponent.

It would be a shame to end the campaign with it so close to reaching its resolution! I see what you mean about it being an uphill task but given lots of games don't go anywhere near 1945 you may find somebody is up for taking it on as a learning opportunity.

Good luck!

[Leandros]

Thank you everybody, for your support, but I have decided to close the thread. Sad but I see no other solution.

Fred

[Leandros]

Hi, guys, after finally getting started with Rookie II again, with a new opponent, I find that ALL allied ship's types, civilian and military, have had their AA capability/capacity denomi.nator exactly halved. As an example the Fletchers show a 290 figure - normal being 580.

Having checked "ships sunk" before the opponent transition I find that these are halved, as well. I am pretty certain that they were "normal" before the transition.

Without being sure, I suspect this reduction in the AA denominator figure has shown itself in practice in the few actions which have taken place after the transition.

Any ideas?

Regds
Fred

[Leandros]

Hi, everybody!

I am pleased to announce that the game is up and going again. Matt, a previous opponent, has stepped up to, hopefully, help me finish it to the end. After some heroic efforts by him we have managed to line it up. We are about a week into the start-up - mid-March 1945 and we have agreed to proceed on a leisurely pace so as not to strain eyes or domestic issues too much.

The situation has changed little during these few days, excepting that US Marines landed at Banggi Island, on the north-eastern corner of Borneo, this morning. During the build-up to this naval bombardments of enemy airfields along the northern coast-line have reduced the enemy's air capabilities. Marine units participating in the recent landings are the same which captured Tawi Tawi, Tapul and Sandakan. Banggi Island has a rough fighter strip but the terrain is considered to be good for extensive expansion. If the invasion succeeds there is poential for cutting off the enemy use of the South China Sea and to capture the British oil installations of Miri and Jesselton.

The British have continued their withdrawals in Burma, Akyab and Myitkyina shall be the prominent forward outposts. Instead they are reinforcing the island chain along the south-western side of Sumatra, with a view to jumping over to this main island as opportunity arises, eventually heading for Singapore or Palembang. With the constant influx of ever new Royal Navy, Army and RAF units coming through Suez and Aden the British shall become an important asset in future operations. A large British carrier force is already operating in the Indian Ocean.

China is more or less dormant.

I shall continue to post important developments as time permits. Feedback is always appreciated.

Fred (and Matt)

[MBF]

Glad you found an opponent to complete the game !

[Leandros]

Thank you - appreciate it!

Fred