No Wind Sunshine - forecast: need more beer - Strawb vs. LST AAR

[LargeSlowTarget]

Okay folks, it has been a long time since the last update - sorry. In the meantime I have moved into a foreign country and became a father, so no wonder...
At the moment, I can't play due to connection problems - none at home, can't play at work - but I still have some notes on the last turns which I hereby would like to share with you.


*****
04/24/1944

Heavy action this week on all fronts. Enemy troops reached Rangoon in pursuit of our troops retreating from Akyab and Mandalay. Both sides made heavy use of their air forces to support the ground troops. Our isolated troops at Lashio held firm despite heavy air attacks.

In the South, ground combat and air attacks continued to reduce our foothold on Guadalcanal. Enemy units landed unopposed on New Georgia and Emirau. Enemy carriers attacked Rabaul, surface forces and LBA bombarded Bougainville and the 4th, 5th and 6th Australian divisions had no problem to disperse the defenders of the 3rd Kure SNLF Bn, which took to the jungle.

In the Central Pacific, our air forces in the Marianas flew numerous sorties against enemy convoys near Woleai, sinking two troop ships and one freighter. Our surface fleet staged a hit-and-run bombardment of this atoll, but failed to catch enemy shipping. Later in the week, two enemy carrier TFs and a bombardment TF attacked the Marianas, leading to huge aerial battles as enemy planes attacked our bases on Saipan, Guam and Tinian. Unfortunately, our air forces were outnumbered and outmatched and suffered heavy losses for little to show in return. Although quite a few enemy planes have been shot down, many of our planes were destroyed in the air, by AAA or on the ground, including many by battleship bombardments of Tinian. Our counterattacks failed and obtained only one meagre bomb hit on a CVL. Enemy LBA from Truk bombed Tinian as well, and sank three freighters in a Guam-bound convoy. 88 heavy bombers attacked Minami Tori Shima and moderately damaged supply depots.

In the Home Islands, 42 heavy bombers from Chungking staged a night attack against Hiroshima, losing two planes to night-fighters, lightly damaging a Raiden factory and killing 2000 civilians.

Air losses totaled 707 for our side and 537 enemies destroyed. Enemy subs sank eight freighters and one AP near Tokyo.

Emperor LST curses the enemy submarines in his front court.


*****
05/01/1944

Air attacks continued in the Rangoon and Lashio area. Our isolated division at Lashio has beaten back an attack by the 18th and 70th British divisions, the 34th Indian Division and the 6th and 66th Chinese armies.

In the South Pacific, Australian Brigades landed unopposed on the Shortland Is LBA and carrier planes bombed our troops on Guadalcanal. The Admiralty Is. have been bombarded by surface units, which covered the landing of the US 43rd Division. Our weak garrison of a detachment of the 34th Brigade stalled the first wave, but was forced to yield the base facilities and retreat into the interior of the island later in the week.

North of Australia, enemy air attacks continued against Tenimbar and Milne Bay. A single enemy BB, identified as the French Richelieu, has been spotted and attacked by medium Army bombers south of Timor. No hits have been reported and two bombers are missing.

In the Central Pacific, our brave pilots at Tinian attacked Woleai and managed to sink an enemy AP. The enemy concentrated on Wake Is., bombing it with 6o heavy bombers from Wotje and Kwajalein respectively, and with carrier planes and surface bombardments. Unfortunately, the enemy carrier planes catched a warship convoy - retireing from Wake after having rushed in reinforcements - in broad daylight. Four light cruisers of the Kima class, one Sendai class light cruiser, the new destroyer Shimakaze and five precious destroyers of the Yugumo class sank under a hail of bombs, torpedos and rockets. Nevertheless, this sacrifice allowed the freshly reinforced atoll defenders under Admiral Akiyama - the 4th Amphibious Brigade, the Kure SNLF Rgt, the Sasebo 6th Bn and the Wake SBF, to pin down the invading enemy troops of the 40th US Division and the elite 503rd Para Rgt. Preparations for a banzai charge to push the invaders into the sea are underway.

In the Home islands, the enemy again launched a night attack against Hiroshima. This time, the 48 enemy bombers were greeted by the same number of night fighters, and lost seven planes. The Hayate factory received only light damage.

Air losses down to 110:60, only two freighters fell victim to enemy subs.

Emperor LST fumes at the unnecessary loss of so many fine ships near Wake and as a punishment puts Combined Fleet HQ on half beer rations.

[LargeSlowTarget]

*****
05/08/1944

Emperor LST has ordered all able-bodied men not needed for arms or beer production to the front lines. This includes personnel of the War Diary section of GHQ, which consequently has to cut down the amount of time and resources devoted to writing AARs. Therefore, from now on we will only note the most important events in brief words, until the war situation allows a return to more in-depth decriptions (translation: wrote long AAR and lost it due to CTD of browser - damn you, BG! I'm not in the mood to retype it all)

Wake Is.: Our counterattack wipes out the US 40th Division, enemy bombings, bombardments and rescue mission by the 33rd US Division arrive too late

Tinian: violent air clashes against LR-fighters from Truk, enemy lost 79 out of 130, we lost 169 out of 196 planes

Woleai: Our air forces on the Marianas manage to sink three freighters near Woleai

Bougainville: The last Imperial troops are eliminated

Kagoshima: A night attack by 27 heavy bombers from Kweilen causes light damage to a Hayate factory, three enemy planes were shot down

Bonin Is.: enemy sub sunk by H6K patrol plane

total air losses: 269:137
losses to enemy subs: 4 freighters


*****
05/15/1944

Guadalcanal: Last resistance ceases

Wake Is.: heavy air attack by 120 B-29s heavily damages supply depots, carrier raids and bombardments disrupt defenders

Kagoshima: two night attacks lightly damage Hiryu and Hayate factories, 14 enemy bombers shot down

Rabaul: LBA, carrier and surface bombardments indicate major landing in the near future

Woleai: enemy planes operate for the first time from Woleai against Marianas

sub ops: two of our subs sunk near Truk, one by air, one by escorts of BB force

air losses: 161:136
sub losses: four MCS sunk


*****
05/22/1944

Lashio: outnumbered at least 8:1, our troops hold

Rabaul: bombed and bombarded, the lone brigade withdraws in face of five divisions and four brigades of ANZAC troops

Rangoon: air attacks, battleship bombardment and enemy supply convoy unloading over the beach weakens our position

Marianas: air attacks from Truk continue to attrit our fighter defense

Wake Is.: bombed again by 120 B-29s and numerous carriers and supported by surface bombardments, the 1st and 3rd marine divisions overwhelm the brave defenders of Wake Is. - Adm. Akiyama commits suicide

air losses: 203:113
sub campaign: one freighter sunk


*****
05/29/1944

Admiralty Is.: 1/34th Rgt is eliminated by enemy troops

Gasmata: our troops retreating from Rabaul are forced to continue retreat to Cape Gloucester

Rangoon: due to heavy losses to enemy air attacks and bombardments, our troops are withdrawn to Bangkok - the enemy captures the deserted base but is attacked by our air force at Bangkok (175 fighters)

Woleai: air attacks from Marianas against medium CAP lead to mutual losses

Marianas: 66 B-29s from Ponape loose 20 of their number, but destroy 73 planes on Saipan, attacks from Truk destroy 90 out of 108 interceptors for only 20 enemy planes splashed

Tokyo: daylight air raid from Wake Is. by 80 B-29s!! 16 bombers are shot down by AAA, but heavy industry suffers moderate damage

air losses: 342:287
sub campaign: one DE, eight freighters lost

[LargeSlowTarget]

*****
06/05/1944

Woleai: Air raid from Guam with 165 fighters and 30 bombers - 45-strong CAP - 42 enemies splashed, own losses 35

Rangoon: Air raid from Rangoon with 161 fighters - 27 P-47 on CAP - 19 planes lost each

Lae: several heavy air raids indicate the end is near for this outpost of the Empire

Saipan I: air raid by 84 B-29s from Ponape - 131 fighters on CAP - 21 bombers shot down, 34 fighters lost in air-2-air, 30 more destroyed on the ground

Saipan II: air raid from Truk by 106 P-38s covering 36 medium bombers - 119-strong CAP - 32 enemies downed, but own losses a staggering 105 planes in the air and 10 more on the ground - we need better planes and pilots

Tokyo: night attack by 80 heavy bombers from Wake Is. - eight planes shot down by AAA - 1000 civilians killed, no damage to industries

Andaman Is.: bombarded by RN

Kavieng: invaded by NZ brigade, battalion-sized garrison is holding

Marianas multiple enemy carrier raids against airfields and counterattacks by our air forces lead to heavy losses on both sides - no hits on enemy ships recorded due to heavy AAA

Tinian: Surface Action! Enemy bombardment force of 3 BB, 4 CA, 3 CL and 8 DD intercepted by savagely aggressive Adm. Nishimura with 8 BB, 4 CA and 12 DD - enemy ships observed sunk: two Queen Elizabeth class BB, one Warspite class BB, one New Orleans class CA, one Dorsetshire class CA, one Hawkins class CL, one Fletcher class DD - own losses: BB Kongo moderately damaged, superficial damage to other ships [8D]

Tinian: Surface Action PartII! second enemy TF (5 BB -3 of them RN 'R' class-, 2 CA, 5 CL, 12 DD) engaged, but contact is lost after sinking one Fletcher class DD and damaging a Baltimore class CA - own ships receive damage, but none lethal

Tinian: enemy carrier planes hunt ships crippled in night surface action - Kongo class BB, CA Aoba and two DDs sunk

air losses: 592:472
losses to enemy subs: 1 DE, 8 MCS, 2 TK

*****
06/12/1944

Cape Gloucester: occupied by enemy

Lashio: finally captured by enemy

Rangoon: several air raids from Bangkok starting with 181 fighters met by (initially) 92 P-47s - about 100 planes lost for 80 enemies destroyed

Marianas I: multiple heavy air raids day and night against airbases and depots from Eniwetok, Truk, Woleai, Kwajalein and Ponape - heavy losses

Marianas II: carrier air raids against remnants of our air forces in the Marianas - our defending forces finally overwhelmed

Tinian I: weak attacks of remnaining planes against invasion-TF consisting of 5 CL, 16 DD, 6 AP, 36 APA, 18 MCS - 1 CL, 1 APA damaged, 2 APA sunk

Tinian II: repeatedly bombarded by heavy surface units (9 BB, 1 BC, 4 CA, 6 CL, 19 DD)

Tinian III: finally invaded by 1st and 4th USMC, 6th US and 9th Aus divisions - Gen. Tazoe held positions with IJA 4th, 30th, 42nd and 102nd divisions, but was overwhelmed when enemy reinforced with 3rd USMC, 33rd US, 93rd US and 7th Aus divisions - 8th Area Army HQ destroyed, Gen. Kitano committed suicide

Tinian IV: sub attacks and sinks Casablanca class CVE with single torpedo

Madang: captured unopposed by enemy

Green Is.: captured unopposed by enemy

Andaman Is.: captured unopposed by UK Engineers

Kavieng: ground combat, enemy reinforced by 14th and 30th Aus brigades, 8th NZ brigade, two ENG battalions and the USMC 4th Defense Battalion - Mai 2nd Bn forced to retreat, will continue guerilla actions in the hinterland

Wake Is. bombarded by our brave IJN with 8 CA and 11 DD under Adm. Mikawa - 53 enemy planes destroyed on the ground, including many B-29 - weak enemy air strikes from Eniwetok by P-61 fighter-bombers causes no damage, ten planes shot down by AAA

air losses: 743:384
losses to subs: 1 DE, 4 MCS, 1 TK

[LargeSlowTarget]

*****
06/19/1944

Cape Gloucester: last defenders eliminated by Allied troops

Tinian I: Allied forces launch repeated ground attacks supported by air strikes, our troops continue the defense of the inner part of the island

Tinian II: bombarded by 5 BB, 1 BC and smaller fry

Guam I: repeated air raids from Eniwetok, Ponape and Woleai by heavy bombers and fighter-bombers heavily damage our positions

Guam II: bombarded by 4 BB, 1 CA, 4 CL, 15 DD

Kavieng: ground and air attacks causes light casualties to our forces hiding in the jungle

Tokyo: two night bombing attacks by B-29s from Wake intercepted by night-fighters - 20 bombers shot down, 9 interceptors lost, 1000 civilians killed, light damage to industry

ASW Warfare: one enemy sub sunk off Tokyo Bay by air, another off Singapore by surface ships - one of our subs believed sunk in the Marianas by air attack

Minami Tori Shima: carrier raid by 120 fighters covering 56 bombers met by 64 Raiden on CAP - 29 enemies splashed, 54 of our own planes shot down and 6 more destroyed on the ground - counterattack by 37 Raiden and 18 Tenzan met by 86 fighters, enemy TF consisting of 4 CV, 1 BB, 1 CL, 1 CLAA, 8 DD - heavy losses and no hits recorded

Rangoon: air attack from Bangkok against British cargo TF - one freighter sunk

Ulithi: air attack from Woleai by 30+ Hellcats against troop ships - one AP damaged

Yap: air attack from Tinian by 46 P-51s against troop ships - one AP damaged

air losses: 385:240
losses to subs: 1 CD, 6 MCS, 1 TK


*****
06/26/1944
Wewak: captured by Allies

Kavieng: air and ground attacks continue

Lashio: supported by heavy attacks, nine divisions, one Bde, one tank Bde and two Chinese Armies pound our brave 33rd Division - losses are heavy, but our troops continue to resist

Rangoon: air attack from Bangkok by 113 Raiden met by 88 P-47s - we lost 69, the enemy 43 planes

Guam: attacks by heavy bombers continue, aided by carrier raids and surface bombardments - heavy losses, disruption and damage to depots

Tinian: same as with Guam

Tokyo: daylight raid by 80 B-29s, met by only 10 interceptors - 2000 civilians killed, moderate damage to Heavy Industries

Medan: air attack from Akyab by 60 heavy bombers - supply depots moderately damaged

Entrecasteaux Is.: invaded by French RIMa

sub war: two of our subs missing in Truk area, enemy subs manage to put three torpedos into BB Mutsu and another into a DD - Mutsu heavily damaged, the DD sank later

air losses: even 152:152

Allied Sub Campaign: 1 DD, 2 DE, 11 MCS, 1 TK lost to enemy subs

[LargeSlowTarget]

Situation in the CBI

[LargeSlowTarget]

Situation in the Central Pacific

[LargeSlowTarget]

And the situation in the South Pacific

[LargeSlowTarget]

Hey Sardaukar - Battle of the Screenshots, LOL!

Losses:

[LargeSlowTarget]

Sunk Ships List:

[LargeSlowTarget]

And the current score:

(Sorry, no screenies of the aircraft pools etc. - classified information!)

[LargeSlowTarget]

So, what hurts me most are the tanker losses - lack of oil kills my production score, I have not enough fuel left to conduct sweeping fleet operations (with what's left of Combined Fleet[:(]), and at bases outside Japan there isn't enough fuel to keep all my planes in the air. The end is near...

Well, real life commitments have led to a slow-down, but I hope I will be able to post another turn now and then.

[Sardaukar]

How did you manage to sink so many US/Allied subs compared to your own losses ? Must have taken lot of patrol aircraft effort, I think.

Cheers,

M.S.

[strawbuk]

Yes it the superslow on off AAR - fine by me as I too have other things to worry about.

Despite a disasterous early war (look at my CA/CL losses) I some how manage to keep an offensive going - I have three decent CV TFs operationsal , 2 CVE TFs, two good BB/CA surface TFs. BUT the loss of CA/CLs to act as AA escorts mean that I can only have two or three good transport/amphib TFs happening at anytime. The CV TFs are relying on the CVs own AA, DDs (x12 or 16 fletchers) and a good 33knt BB in each for AA defence (all 3500 plus flak factor)

In addition where as by now a lot of allied divs should be 80+ experience , including some good army divs to back up the marine spearhead, due to disasters my best troops are Aussies. I had a self impose ban (lasted a year) on using Aussies after wasting three divs until full USN support was availabe for operations - real I think, as the Aussie Govt would have said no to releasing more troops without gurantees that every US ship available was in support. I have 6 ex 'destroyed' divs sat under 4th army in SF ie not shippable!

I also have some 16 fully equipped B-29 groups! (this due to bug/error where I tried to maximise Libertaor sqns - I forget how, anyway useful accident though it really limited my tac bomber abilty for a while).

But you will note from LSTs excellent AAR that I am now taking few chances- every landing target get the full prep - even diverting all those B-29s on to ground/base attacks.

So the end is inevitable but will drag out all the way - his kamikazes will bring the scoring back even again I think!

Plans - well obviously secure Marianas and start bombing him back to stone age. I will have to then move on DEI et al to get enough points to form bases to 'win' before game end.

Its been a tough time and LST has taught me many a lesson!

[strawbuk]

ORIGINAL: Sardaukar

How did you manage to sink so many US/Allied subs compared to your own losses ? Must have taken lot of patrol aircraft effort, I think.

Cheers,

M.S.

Because I have so many more to sink! And they have been tanker happy hunters too - my best forces in game without doubt.

[LargeSlowTarget]

ORIGINAL: Sardaukar

How did you manage to sink so many US/Allied subs compared to your own losses ? Must have taken lot of patrol aircraft effort, I think.

Cheers,

M.S.

I use my subs defensively and indeed, my patrol aircraft effort is huge - including Nells and Betties based along the most important convoy routes.

[deVada]

Has the Empire used their white flags ?

Regarding to tanker looses, I have killed 80 of Graham's IJN TKs (its january 1944) and they keep swimming ... How many more should I kill ?

Impressive allied score.[:)]

[LargeSlowTarget]

No, new job and baby-boy eat the time formerly devoted to PacWar. And I'm waiting for a turn from Strawbuk, haven't heard from him for weeks. [&:]

[deVada]

Congratulations !! New family member and new job.

Anyway, how can be real life more important than war ?? [:D]

[LargeSlowTarget]

We have managed to play a few turns during the last weeks, so here is a little update...

*****
07/03/1944

In the South Pacific, our outposts at Kavieng, Wewak, Entrecasteaux Is. and Timor have received heavy air attacks. Ground combat at Kavieng continued with our 2nd Mai Bn holding out against vastly superior forces.
In the Burma-Malaya area, heavy air and ground attacks have been directed against our isolated forces at Lashio, which still fight a guerilla campaign against a dozen enemy divisions. Other air attacks targeted Medan and Bangkok. Our fighters at Bangkok lost 50 out of 75 planes for 15 out of 100 enemy P-47s shot down.
In the Home Islands, Tokyo has been bombed in broad daylight by 80 B-29s from Wake. Our interceptors and AA shot down 37 bombers, losing 29 fighters in the process. 3000 civilians have been killed and shipyards moderately damaged. A follow-up attack by 60 bombers lost no less than 48 planes to our alert interceptors (of which 21 failed to return), shipyards received additional damage. A night attack on Nagasaki by 96 B-29s based in China has led to 4000 casualties and heavy damage to the local steel industry. A nuisance attack from bases in the Aleutian chain has been directed at Paramushiro.
The main show revolved around Tinian. Supported by vicious land based and carrier air strikes, the US ground forces launched repeated attacks against our outnumbered defenders, who continue to resist. 120 B-29s raided Guam and heavily damaged supply depots. One of our submarines reported engaging an enemy CVE, but no further news have been received.
Air losses total 148:177 in our favor, enemy submarines sank one freighter and two tankers.

Emperor LST has offered lifetime supply of beer for each pilot who downs 5 or more B-29s.


*****
07/10/1944

Heavy enemy air attacks continue to strike our positions in the Burma-Malaya area and PNG, especially Lashio, Medan, Lae, Aitape and Port Moresby. Wewak fell to enemy troops, our defenders retreated down the coast. At Kavieng, our brave garrison finally has been overwhelmed. Enemy troops also occupied undefended Entrecasteaux Is..
Tokyo and Nagasaki have been attacked by B-29s again, the enemy lost 76 bombers, we suffered 44 interceptors lost, 7000 helpless civilians slained and moderate damage to oil refineries, shipyards and steel mills.
In the Marianas, the enemy continued to pound our positions on Tinian, Guam and Saipan with land based and carrier air strikes as well as bombardments by numerous capital ships. This time we had fighter cover available, and the enemy lost at least 40 B-29s and scores of carrier planes. Our brave pilots even attacked the enemy air base on Tinian and destroyed 44 planes in the air and on the ground. Our own losses have been heavy though, and our remaining planes on Saipan and Guam have been withdrawn for reorganization. Our submarine force reported the sinking of an enemy CVE near Tinian, but admitted the loss of the successful sub due to enemy countermeasures.
Air losses this week reached 574:412. Two freighters and one tanker have been lost to enemy subs.

Emeror LST is happy because a blockade-running submarine has brought beer from Germany. The Emperor has ordered the redeployment of several Guards units in order to protect the Imperial Fridge holding the precious supply.


*****
07/17/1944

This week ground combat has revived on Tinian, with three Marine, three US Army and two Australian divisions resuming the offensive against our outnumbered forces, heavily supported by carrier planes and surface bombardments. Guam has been raided again by 120 B-29s, causing moderate damage to supply depots. Tokyo and Nagasaki have been hit by night bombing attacks, 5000 civilians died, shipyards and a Nakajima plant received light damage, one artillery factory has been moderately damaged. 21 B-29s have been downed by night fighters and AAA.
Enemy air strikes have hit Bangkok, Lashio, Aitape, Lae, Port Moresby, Buna and Tenimbar Is. Aitape fell to enemy invasion forces consisting of one US Army division and and Australian brigade. Another landing at Lae by the 1st, 8th and 14th NZ Brigades, the 30th Australian Brigade and the 37th US Army Regiment has been stalled for the moment by our defending forces, but the enemy keeps up the pressure.
One enemy submarine has been sunk off Tokyo Bay by a patrol plane, but four of our own submarines deployed around Truk have failed to report as scheduled.
Air losses this week stood at 184:143. Only one freighter has been lost to enemy submarines.

Emperor LST wonders whether his submarines should be used for additional beer runs to Germany instead of serving as target practice for Allied ASW forces.

[deVada]

Huh, if the Emperor is avaricious (like every other boss I know) his offer of lifetime beer supply reveals that he doesn't have much hope on long life perspectives of his pilots. [:D]

But if I were a A6M5 pilot I'll take the bait ...

What is the situation in Australia ? Who is in control of it ?