Thinz2 vs Zuluhour

[zuluhour]

May 9th 1943

West Coast: We get an ARD; she is ordered to CenPac.

CenPac: The entire IJN is closing on Sioux. The first air raids are today:

Afternoon Air attack on Tabiteuea , at 137,134

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 29
A6M3a Zero x 83
B5N1 Kate x 42
B5N2 Kate x 107
D3A2 Val x 70



Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 10 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 3 destroyed by flak
D3A2 Val: 1 damaged
D3A2 Val: 1 destroyed by flak


Allied ground losses:
92 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled


Port hits 6
Port supply hits 2

The rest of the invasion force TF goes down at sea. Flooding sinks our DD and APA due east of the beachhead. 3rd Marine division ordered into defensive mode to weather the expected pounding of air and surface forces over the next 48hrs.

SoPac: We hit Rabauls port. Some port damage achieved. We received P47s yesterday; they are quickly routed to debarkation ports.

CBI: Bombing slowed over Paoshan due to maintence and fatigue.

[Smeulders]

ORIGINAL: koniu

**While it shows we take the island, the new turn shows some 2ooo japs still on the island?

It looks like sync bug.

Not at all, when there is no retreat route the defenders will not leave the hex, even if they lose the base. You'll need a couple more attacks to root them out, but should be able to use port and AF facilities (if in good shape).

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: Smeulders

ORIGINAL: koniu

**While it shows we take the island, the new turn shows some 2ooo japs still on the island?

It looks like sync bug.

Not at all, when there is no retreat route the defenders will not leave the hex, even if they lose the base. You'll need a couple more attacks to root them out, but should be able to use port and AF facilities (if in good shape).

So what. He capture AF and port but not island. I always think that when you capture hex base and enemy cant retreat he will surrender.

If this is true it give lots of flavor to game. Like in RL (Guadalcanal style battle) you have AF but few hundred meters deeper in jungle Japanese soldiers waiting to kill you. Nice.

[zuluhour]

....sneaky LYBs[:D]

[zuluhour]

May 10th -11th 1943

West Coast: Some assembled TFs leave port for blue water. P47s embark for the Pacific.

CenPac: We have shock and deliberately assaulted the IJA units on Sioux. They hold. One of our subs picks up the BBTF to the NW. They will probably hit us overnight. No sign of Jap carriers.

SoPac: Most of the bomber groups remain on stand down, taking replacements and recovering moral.

CBI: Most airgroups here are also on standown from the 2 week offensive at Paoshan.

It's an ominous quiet. I have not out guessed Terry once; I'm due.

[zuluhour]

May 12th 1943

CenPac: IJN BBs hit Sioux. They score well:
Night Naval bombardment of Tabiteuea at 137,134

Japanese Ships
BB Kirishima
BB Hiei
BB Haruna
BB Kongo
CA Ashigara
CA Nachi
CA Haguro
CA Myoko


Allied ground losses:
370 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 39 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 19 (1 destroyed, 18 disabled)

SoPac: We hit Rabaul with 90 B24s achieving very little. We continue to hit Guadalcanal with Marauders.

CBI: night attacks on Ledo repulsed. He uses Helens.

[zuluhour]

May 13th 1943

West Coast: I-8 takes 4 hits off San Diego.

CenPac: Message: Major General Allen Turnage: Commander: 3rd Marines: The island is secure. Efforts to get a base force ashore in 48hrs: aircraft 72hrs: resupply 72 hrs.

SoPac: I-174 takes 5 hits for heavy damage. Tulagi gets a Marauder raid. First fuel delivery to our new relay pt in the south Pacific due tonight.

CBI: The focus for allied air power today was Bhamo and Lashio. We hit both hard. At Lashio our two leading fighter squadrons sweep to a draw. 7 to 7. Prince scores his 18th kill for the RAF. 61 bomber sorties get 6 Tojos on the ground and 71 base hits. At Bhamo we use Mitchells without sweeps or fighters. 60 sorties = 92 base hits; 1 damaged Mitchell.

[zuluhour]

May 14th -15th 1943

Quiet in all theaters. The IJAF does pull off a solid raid on Dinapur, knocking out a dozen C47s.

[zuluhour]

May 16th 1943

CenPac: A base force is landing at Sioux, most of the personel should be on dry land on the morning of the 17th. Wildcats and Avengers stage in from escort carriers.

SoPac: The heavies hit Torokina; 131 sorties; 4 Zeros down; 171 base hits; 1 liberator lost; 19 damaged. Have not checked the Op report yet. Seminole Op picking up steam; phase II close. An IJN sub finds a tanker near our new fuel depot deep in the south Pacific. Sub chasers and ASW aircraft will be arriving very shortly.

CBI: On fighter sweep over Bhamo we get 2 Oscars, 1 Tojo, and a Nick; all aircraft and pilots accounted for.

[zuluhour]

Alfred: Have you a link to "Supply for Dummies" or Alfreds "Supply 101"? of particular curiosity is supply expenditures: LCU-combat vs rest: base building: heavy bomber usage. I'll reread the section tonight after the Orioles fall behind the Yankees.

May 17th 1943

West Coast: Mitchells, Fortresses, and Corsairs ready for shipment to the theaters.

CenPac: Our base force is ashore 100% TOE, waiting for more supplies from the transport. 3rd Marines report 92% TOE after the battle. Mine layer TF should lay a field tonight. I-6 takes 5 hits off San Diego.

SoPac: I-162 scores again in the southern depot area; another large tanker. ASW assets 48 hours away. I-34 is working the Newcastle Sydney area. Transports for Seminole arrive needing maintenence and are 4-5 days away from service.

I post the map below as it is what the TWITs are using for the next stage of the offensive. We are toying with "Wagon Wheel" as the operational title.

[zuluhour]

oops.... DAMN TWIT wrong map

[zuluhour]

the Solomons: New Guinea: New Britain: Operation Wagon Wheel.

[zuluhour]

A bit of intel from the "other side".

"Players get information from the ops report that they probably shouldn’t. In our game, I noticed awhile back that Hiva Oa’s port was being expanded. I figured that it must be being developed as some sort of staging base and decided to send some subs to poke around."

That explains 2 tankers in 2 days in the middle of nowhere. lesson learned.

[Mike Solli]

You don't get all enemy base expansion, just some of it. And I don't think you get any fort expansion. I check that stuff every day. You never know when you get a gem.

[zuluhour]

May 18th 19th 20th 1943

West Coast: The Essex is at sea. The Wasp has departed the west coast and has made blue water.

CenPac: 2 fighter squadrons and a torpedo squadron are operational at Sioux. An APA hit a mine near the beach. We also have layed a minefield there. The Kido Butai is spotted on the 20th 500-600nm NNW of Sioux. Transports and escorts are ordered to egress at flank. Seawolf heavily damages an xAK near Truk (2 -fish)

SoPac: We fly 63 sorties over Lunga Point for 37 casualties. 24 sorties over Lae for 5 casualties. On the 19th we hit Rabaul with one squadron of Liberators for 27 base hits, 3 zekes on the ground and 17 more damaged. Seminole loads phase II assault troops.

CBI: We sweep Bhamo all three days; 32 sorties; we get 4 they get 2. Over the 28th and 4th IJA divisions in western China we continue daily bombings. 175 sorties over three days; 145 casualties reported.

[zuluhour]

May 21st 1943

CenPac: A brutal day for the USN. Kido Butai catches fleeing transports with supply off Onotoa. 8 subchasers and LSTs go under. Our mine layer TF escapes.

SoPac: We carry out a large raid on Rabaul. 78 Liberators drop on the base; 7 are damaged. Reports indicate 6 zekes destroyed; 20 casualties; 97 base hits. 18 more B24s show up late and report a Val destroyed and add 26 more base hits for a damaged B24. The Shortlands are also on the list and we achieve 53 base hits there. Recon shows a rapid build up at Buka as well. We are only interested in bases with attack aircraft for now.

Burma/frontier: Lashio is the primary target. 88 sorties (sweep arrives last) The Mitchell squadrons are roughed up in the heavy CAP; we lose 8. WE report 131 base hits, which we deem effective as no fighters rise to meet the RAF flying sweep and arriving last.

[zuluhour]

May 22nd 1943

CenPac: KB spotted. see map.

SoPac: radio silence. Attack aircraft stood down.

CBI:only a handfull of raiders sent to Paoshan. They report 20 casualties.

[zuluhour]

May 23rd 1943

CenPac: I-171 finds Yorktown 48 hours from Pearl. She gets another fish in her belly. Damage is moderate and she should make port. I-171 is forced to the surface and pays the supreme price. Its doubtful the Yorktown has any of her original hull. The Kido Butai comes about to the WSW and hits Sioux. 3rd Marines report over 350 casualties. The Wildcats do not fair well against the IJN aviators.

SoPac: Large allied raids on the Shortlands and Buka. We are trying to suppress the fields. We have 5 days.

Australia: We have Darwin back in supply (very min.). The 7th Aussies reach Cairnes for deployment. The 9th is at sea.

CBI: Most attack aircraft still stood down. Mitchells and Warhawks will go after the IJA 28th and 4th divisions near Paoshan. 22nd Army group, relieving the 11th AG arrive on the frontier. Wingates commandos are being airlifted back to India as we abort the planned attack to the Pearl River.

[zuluhour]

Here is the base plan to finish the year in SoPac: We are working the OOB and logistics. The amphib. losses are staggering. Kudos to Terry for hitting me where it hurts.

[zuluhour]

May 24th 1943

CenPac: Some revenge for yesterday:

Sub attack near Tabiteuea at 135,134

Japanese Ships
CV Zuikaku, Torpedo hits 1
CA Kumano
CA Mikuma
CL Naka
DD Tamanami
DD Kiyonami
DD Onami

Allied Ships
SS Grayback, hits 4

Yorktown reaches port and placed on critical list. She shows 3 weeks. All three fleet carriers will converge then. P47s train on Oahu. Thrasher deep sixes an xAK off Truk. We dud on a tanker attack in Imperial waters.

SoPac: radio silence

CBI: We continue raids over the 28th and 4th IJA divisions. The sweep nets 2 Tojos for no loss. Wingate waits to board C47s for return trip to India. 22nd AG deploys into combat mode in the mountains east of Paoshan.