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The eastern supply/staging base for Tabby will get a pretty good rush this next day.

It has been rumored the Heavy volume of traffic generally references troops loading or unloading...it is I think 2 days since Japan recognized the increase in traffic here...I wonder if anything is left.

Size 3 port which means submarine nets.

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

ORIGINAL: Lowpe





By early 1943 all staging bases are 100 percent built up.

If not earlier. ... they don't really need that many do they? [:(]

There just aren't that many! Unfortunately, buildups can't pinpoint targets, but at least give you a front to work on.

Agreed.

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Not happy with my search at all, supplies still heading to Nauru and unloading at Makin.

My basic thought is to establish really good naval search using floats, patrols and Iboats. Grab a dot base or three, and pound Tabby with round the clock naval bombardments that are being rearmed from the adjacent dot bases with AKE.

I spend a lot of effort on NavSearch and Recon, so you won't have me critiquing your thoughts here. My basic thought is that the formulaic IJ Intel is so bad that I need to cover that with accurate and persistent active Intel gathering.

I like dot bases with AS/AV/AD/AGP where I can setup both air, sea, and sub search nets. I also like to use Rufe's as CAT traps in similar setups … at least against Andy AI I get net a lot of CAT's that way …

Jake is such a valuable asset with its range. PB's make great pickets and you can have all you need. Some MTB's to provide a screen against allied TF intrusion, and well, you have a pretty happy family. [8D]

Mid May 1942

Iboat frolics

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

May 1942

Experimenting with Iboats used as intel gathering...and testing his ASW. Late war these boats would be in trouble with air and DE hunting them down and killing them.

I have no idea what a 70 skill recon trained Glen pilot can report back, but I want to use them in flights of 3 or 4. Day or night depending upon the anticipated threat level.

I think I'll do ofthe Glen an amphib recon in my mod; alternatively alongside a "bomber" variant as well camera equipped, if one really would like;

btw I spend a lot, a lot of resources in having the first Seiran equipped I boats in service, just because I like the Seiran that much (when resized);

I'll change this too in the mod, which shall provide Seiran equipped groups

Mid May, 1942

Allies can start to flex their muscles here, but there is a disturbing lack of follow on. Nice landing, but nothing supporting it so far, other than a mild sub infestation -- lost a lone trawler (2vp) yesterday in the Marshalls.

Mini KB and 4 battleships and many heavy cruisers are at Nauru. AKEs, ADs, and a few oilers are in support, while fast transport invasion forces are assembling to grab some of the dot bases. 2 Divisions are prepping for Tabby along with support.

At present, I want to keep the carriers back, grab a dot base, put on it 50 Rufes and use them as a round the clock surface bombardment force against Tabby. Grab several other dot bases for search purposes, & keep strengthening search, and see what I can see.

Bombardments have started at Tabby...recon back up to 40,000 troops. 2nd Marine Div ...

Actually got a small bombardment in the several days ago...heavy cruisers today, battleships for the next two days by which time the cruisers will be back in position. Covered by the mini KB for now...

I got a comment in an email during the Ceylon invasion how I was devastating his small patrol craft like no other...

Mid May,1942

Operations around Tabby continue apace...several Allied ships show up after the last bombardment.

Junyo and miniKB show up and only attack the Taney...an excellent long legged ship.

The Navy was hesitant to enter Tabby waters for fear of mines,but recon doesn't spot any...so bombardment will go in; and two small SAGs will pursue well past Tabby.

Worrisome, an Iboat has 10/10 dl near Baker to the east...even a flank run by the Allied CVs shouldn't expose the IJN.

Fast transport invasion of the dot base north of Tabby...

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Tabiteuea at 137,134

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 110 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 41 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 22
D3A1 Val x 18

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
PC Taney, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
10 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring PC Taney

A lot going on...

Mid to late May, 1942

A destroyer blunders yesterday into a mine at Tabby, but she will make it one hex and disband into the dot base north of Tabby...

Subs are starting to show up...Porpoise and Perch I think.

Meanwhile two bombardment TFs show up at Tabby, and we catch more freshly created PT boat squadrons. The resulting turkey shoot is par for the course with the lone surviving PT boat destroyed in the morning.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Tabiteuea at 137,134, Range 9,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Aoba
CA Furutaka
CA Kako
DD Isonami
DD Shirayuki
DMS W-11

Allied Ships
PT-32, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-33, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-34, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-35, Shell hits 1, on fire
PT-36, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-37, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-38, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
PT-39, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-40, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-41, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-42, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-43, Shell hits 1, and is sunk


Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 57% moonlight: 12,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 9,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 9,000 yards
Allied ships attempt to get underway
PT-43 sunk by CA Kako at 9,000 yards
PT-40 sunk by CA Kako at 9,000 yards
PT-36 sunk by CA Kako at 9,000 yards
PT-32 sunk by CA Aoba at 9,000 yards

Nells dropped some 250kg on Tabby's runways today, scored 2-3 hits flying extended range and very high...just to let the Allies know I can bomb there...

Meanwhile some Yank divebombers showed up, and hit the port of the little atoll I took next door. As if I wanted to build it up![:D] They missed the itty bitty PBs running in 330 supply each. More on this base tomorrow...

Maybe with some planes at Tabby now, the battleships will target the runway?

Should be some fireworks possibly here on the morrow. We shall see.

Over at Manila...the sad, starving defenders, surrender on the first attack which got a 5-1 on a nice roll.

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 90907 troops, 855 guns, 281 vehicles, Assault Value = 2762

Defending force 33336 troops, 195 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 860

Japanese adjusted assault: 3143

Allied adjusted defense: 561

Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Manila !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
PBY-4 Catalina: 1 destroyed
P-40B Warhawk: 5 destroyed
P-35A: 3 destroyed

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

Clearing up the southern approaches in China while bases build up in the north.

The final push could be from the Ankang and north area, or a pivot round and push up the road from Canton to the north. Preparing for both, leaving Changsha for last. Might pursue both at the same time in a great pincer movement.

More than half of Chungking's industry is in ruins.



Another 300 squads destroyed ...Chinese of course.[8D]

Japan must have bombarded Tabby a dozen times by now, and only once did they do any damage to the building ports and airfields.

Twice this game the Navy has bombarded packed runways, only to target the troops.

Not sure what I could be doing wrong as dl is very good. For examples today's bombardments:

Night Naval bombardment of Tabiteuea at 137,134

Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro
BB Mutsu

Allied ground losses:
324 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 16 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 23 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

E8N2 Dave acting as spotter for BB Yamashiro
BB Yamashiro firing at 2nd Marine Division
BB Mutsu firing at 24th Infantry Division


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Tabiteuea at 137,134

Japanese Ships
CA Kako
CA Furutaka
CA Aoba

Allied ground losses:
73 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

CA Kako firing at 24th Infantry Division
CA Furutaka firing at 2nd Marine Division
F1M2 Pete acting as spotter for CA Aoba
CA Aoba firing at 24th Infantry Division

Late May, 1942 - Actions around Tabby

Destroyers that hit mines are ok...plenty of ADs in the area to take care of them.

Can't buy a hit on the 18 SBD there, the size 2 runway, the 12 PBYs or the size 1 port.

TF 51 encounters mine field at Tabiteuea (137,134)

Japanese Ships
DMS W-12
DMS W-11
DD Shirayuki, Mine hits 1, on fire

9 mines cleared


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Laoag at 81,71

Japanese Ships
PB Magan Maru These are the 3 point ASW PB...4 VP AG can replenish their depth charges if needed.
PB Nako Maru #2

Allied Ships
SS S-36

SS S-36 is located by PB Magan Maru
S-36 diving deep ....
PB Nako Maru #2 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Nako Maru #2 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Nako Maru #2 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Nako Maru #2 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Nako Maru #2 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 319 encounters mine field at Tabiteuea (137,134)

Japanese Ships
DD Suzukaze, Mine hits 1



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Sub attack near Nonouti at 135,133

Japanese Ships
PB Teiko Maru
PB Hakata Maru #2

Allied Ships
SS Plunger

SS Plunger launches 2 torpedoes at PB Teiko Maru
Plunger diving deep ....
PB Teiko Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Teiko Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Teiko Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Teiko Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Teiko Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Tabiteuea at 137,134

Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro
BB Mutsu
BB Kirishima
BB Hiei
BB Haruna
CA Kako
CA Furutaka
CA Aoba
CA Kumano
CA Takao

Allied ground losses:
1079 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 55 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 62 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled

E8N2 Dave acting as spotter for BB Yamashiro
BB Yamashiro firing at 24th Infantry Division
BB Mutsu firing at 24th Infantry Division
BB Kirishima firing at 2nd Marine Division
BB Hiei firing at 24th Infantry Division
BB Haruna firing at 2nd Marine Division
CA Kako firing at 2nd Marine Division
CA Furutaka firing at 2nd Marine Division
CA Aoba firing at 24th Infantry Division
CA Kumano firing at 2nd Marine Division
CA Takao firing at 24th Infantry Division


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Tabiteuea at 137,134

Japanese Ships
CA Chokai

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

CA Chokai firing at 24th Infantry Division (what, no spotter?)

This is looking like a great opportunity to kill the 2nd USMC Division, along with the 24th (less valuable target).

What size is the port/AF at Tabit? I am wondering if they are too small to hit reliably with bombardments (e.g., the divisions are bigger targets).

End of May, 1942

Ankang conquered...the defenders retreat to the NorthWest, into the mountains. The river crossing is held by 1 unit, but they have probably been there a long time.

Not as impressive losses as when Sian fell...

Ground combat at Ankang (82,42)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 26923 troops, 296 guns, 40 vehicles, Assault Value = 826

Defending force 44773 troops, 60 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 621

Japanese adjusted assault: 654

Allied adjusted defense: 217

Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Ankang !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), morale(-), experience(-)
supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
360 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 45 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Allied ground losses:
15773 casualties reported
Squads: 366 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 669 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 21 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 9 (9 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 22

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
6th Division
37th Division
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
12th Army
4th Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
16th Chinese Corps
1st Chinese Corps
9th Chinese Corps
39th Chinese Corps
29th Chinese Corps
77th Chinese Corps
96th Chinese Corps
55th Chinese Corps
47th Chinese Corps
41st Chinese Corps
57th Chinese Corps
8th Route Army
42nd Chinese Corps
4th Chinese Cavalry Corps
Red Chinese Army
3rd Chinese Corps
36th Chinese Corps
15th Group Army
33rd Group Army
2nd Group Army
38th Chinese Corps
2nd Chinese Cavalry Corps

A series on timed fast transport invasions goes off without a hitch...some disablements landing, but that was to be expected. These bases will support some small naval search by flying boats and floats establishing a safety net for IJN operations at pounding Tabby.

Speaking of which, we just can't get any port or runway damage. No spotter flew, weather is bad in the area.

Naval bombardment of Tabiteuea at 137,134

Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro
BB Mutsu
BB Kirishima
BB Hiei
BB Haruna
CA Kako
CA Furutaka
CA Aoba
CA Kumano
CA Takao

Allied ground losses:
974 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 61 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 55 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 30 (1 destroyed, 29 disabled)
Vehicles lost 12 (1 destroyed, 11 disabled)

BB Yamashiro firing at 24th Infantry Division
BB Mutsu firing at 2nd Marine Division
BB Kirishima firing at 2nd Marine Division
BB Hiei firing at 2nd Marine Division
BB Haruna firing at 2nd Marine Division
CA Kako firing at 24th Infantry Division
CA Furutaka firing at 24th Infantry Division
CA Aoba firing at 2nd Marine Division
CA Kumano firing at 2nd Marine Division
CA Takao firing at 2nd Marine Division

Happenings up north.

I don't want to fight here, other than to ambush Americans.

ADs' at work on these stricken destroyers. Of interest is that Nonouti is 0 level port.

Feel very good at combating a CV raid aimed at Hokkaido/Sakhalin.

Attu is of course very vulnerable. The Americans haven't built up any of the islands to the east...till Kodiak which is overbuilt.

I feel pretty strongly the Americans will come here while the IJN is pre-occupied with Tabby. An AV with 9 Jakes is heading out for the deep waters to see if we can spot anything, until all the pieces come together.

I can't believe the Yanks didn't come here when the KB was at Ceylon.