Matrix Games Forums

02 April 1943

Mostly quiet. Madras got bombarded. I thought these BBs were part of the Suva campaign, but I'm wrong. One thing I've noticed with these, is that combat troops seem to take little damage from bombardments, while the support and engineers have to eat it. I would love to stack a bunch of air at Madras, but these are preventing it. The supply situation there is rather good, so it makes this rough.

4 Hellcats in the pool. [:)]

I haven't done much with the CBs, since most of my existing bases are fairly well developed. I could probably take a survey to see if there's any other new spots I'd like to fill out. I'm not comfortable with the Pago Pago area right now, for obvious reasons. I'm wondering if trying a massive buildup of the Tahiti area is feasible or even desirable. It could be a handy place to stage supply/fuel from, but it'll take a lot of work, and it could become a backwater again fairly quickly.

Once Attu is finished, I'll send some north to create a base network there.

I've been hitting Exmouth daily. Who knows, I may kill enough air support to prevent search planes form operating there.

Afternoon Air attack on 11th Militia Regiment, at 50,129 (Exmouth)

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Allied aircraft
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 8

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
26 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb



---------------------------------------------

Afternoon Air attack on 11th Militia Regiment, at 50,129 (Exmouth)

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 37 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Allied aircraft
Mitchell II x 9

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
52 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Mitchell II bombing from 6000 feet *
Ground Attack: 3 x 500 lb GP Bomb

ORIGINAL: Mundy
I haven't done much with the CBs, since most of my existing bases are fairly well developed. I could probably take a survey to see if there's any other new spots I'd like to fill out. I'm not comfortable with the Pago Pago area right now, for obvious reasons. I'm wondering if trying a massive buildup of the Tahiti area is feasible or even desirable. It could be a handy place to stage supply/fuel from, but it'll take a lot of work, and it could become a backwater again fairly quickly.

As the Allies you need to continuously be evaluating where to expand. There are always bases to occupy and build up. Especially near the front. Of course it could be a backwater soon but so what? Better off doing that than have an army of engineers doing nothing. Yes its a lot of work but this whole game is a lot of work. Certainly there are many bases in the CentPac to occupy and build up for a push towards the Gilberts. Or even in the SWPac....

EDIT: You should not fear setting up defenses in the Pago Pago area, as long as you are setting up real bases that can be defended. An atoll with CD guns, a regiment of infantry, and good forts is a serious impediment to a Japanese attack. This area is a lot more defendable than the Fiji area; to shy away from defending it is a mistake IMO.

ORIGINAL: Mundy
9 x Mitchell II bombing from 6000 feet *
Ground Attack: 3 x 500 lb GP Bomb

If your engineers were in Western OZ you could have built up bases closer to Exmouth. Instead every bomb mission you fly is at 1/2th effectiveness.

04 April 1943

I'm rounding up a bunch of base forces and CB battalions to beef up Pago Pago and Upolu. Once these are out of dock, I'll send more to Niue to the south. I have a lot of air at Pearl I can send there, too.

It looks like the end of the Exmouth raids.

orning Air attack on 2nd Ship Engineer Regiment, at 50,129 (Exmouth)

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 31 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 30

Allied aircraft
Mitchell II x 9
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Mitchell II: 4 destroyed, 1 damaged
PB4Y-1 Liberator: 4 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
105 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x Mitchell II bombing from 6000 feet *
Ground Attack: 3 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
282 Ku S-1 with A6M3a Zero (22 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(22 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
22 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 13000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes

Also attacking 14th JAAF AF Bn ...
Also attacking 2nd Ship Engineer Regiment ...

I guess one way to think of it is one less zero squadron somewhere else.

The Intel Monkey had something strange to say today.

1943-04-03 6/20th Division is loaded on a Std-D Cargo class xAK moving to Benkoelen -

This seems rather timely. I was under the assumption that Japanese intel provided two things:

1) Jack
2) Crap

At least that's the impression from my other game. Has anyone else ever gotten some good concrete information (not a base) as the Japanese?

Monkeys are amazing creatures!

ORIGINAL: Mundy

The Intel Monkey had something strange to say today.

1943-04-03 6/20th Division is loaded on a Std-D Cargo class xAK moving to Benkoelen -

This seems rather timely. I was under the assumption that Japanese intel provided two things:

1) Jack
2) Crap

At least that's the impression from my other game. Has anyone else ever gotten some good concrete information (not a base) as the Japanese?

It can show a concentration of activity, and if he's reading the tea leaves, he could act on that.

Yeah, I can see a starting point, but to infer the destination like this isn't convincing. Benkoelen is sorta a random location. Unless a massive radio display at Perth makes it that obvious.

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

ORIGINAL: Wargmr

My thoughts on Australia...

Australia is a continent and maneuver warfare is king.

If your opponent is attacking Australia it really extends his line of supply so this is a good thing.

The problem with defending western australia is the danger of being cut off at Port Augusta. If units get caught in the western half they cannot reinforce the east without amphibious movement.

You have no terrain bonuses on that half of the continent and other than VP points there is little gain for the Japanese player except the industry at Perth.

If VP's are off the table I would forget about western Australia and let him have it if he wants.

Concentrate forces near Sydney/MELBOURNE where the terrain is to your advantage and his supply lines are extended even further and you gain a lot of advantage.

You can see my game in progress where NJP attacked Australia and how I am getting out of it. It seems he has about 80K troops almost cut off but he still owns the rail lines to western Australia and there has been a lot of ship movement up there. The flip side is that any Japanese forces caught in the open are subject to murderous 4EB LBA from the allies.

One of the hardest things for an AFB IMO is patience. Let him overextend and then make him pay for it!!

Did you mean Sydney/Melbourne there, Wargamr? Perth seems too far away for concentration of your forces, and it was Sydney/Melbourne that you had success in defending ...

Yes, thank you for the correction

05 April 1943

16 Hellcats in the pool.

The Colombo raid didn't fly. Looks like weather. I've stood everyone there down for now, since it's still calling for t-storms. I'll run out of Madras until his bombardment group is sighted again. I have enough coverage that I should have a day or two warning now.

Cannonfodder must be the unholy dark god of aircraft production.

Morning Air attack on 36th Division, at 131,160 (Nadi)

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 30 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J2M2 Jack x 8

Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 10

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 6 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 15000 feet *
Ground Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
2 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 15000 feet *
Ground Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
284 Ku S-1 with J2M2 Jack (8 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(8 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
8 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 20000.
Raid is overhead

Also attacking 63rd Division ...

He's got Helens there now, flying against Suva, to no effect this turn.

More intel on another fragment of the IJA 20th Division enroute to Benkoelen.

I have an A-36 unit in the states with two more on the way. Kind of useless, since production doesn't start until October. Another CVE is due in 10 days, also.

ORIGINAL: Mundy

I have an A-36 unit in the states with two more on the way. Kind of useless, since production doesn't start until October. Another CVE is due in 10 days, also.

The game is pretty consistent in bringing in partially filled out squadrons well in advance of replacement/production kicking in.

It simply means they are training squadrons until replacements rates allow them to fill out and seek combat.

Yeah, the Australians are more notorious for this (Spitfires...)
 
Exp starts low, but should be in good shape when they flush out.
 
Jacks on his side will make things tougher -- maybe.
 
By the time my carriers reach Sydney, I may be able to flip two fighter squadrons.

06 April 1943

Just another day on Suva.

Night Naval bombardment of Suva at 132,160 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Japanese Ships
BB Hiei
BB Kongo

Allied Ships
xAP Tjisadane, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied ground losses:
87 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Vehicles lost 5 (3 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 6
Port hits 1

E13A1 Jake acting as spotter for BB Hiei
276th Coastal Artillery Battalion firing at BB Hiei
BB Hiei firing at 276th Coastal Artillery Battalion
E13A1 Jake acting as spotter for BB Kongo
BB Kongo firing at Suva

For all the fire in the sky, I've taken very few combat casualties. I wouldn't want to run any airplanes out of there, though. Supplies are at 235k, so that won't be a factor. I hate the thought of him pulling a lot of fuel out of there.

Carriers rounding Melbourne. I have a big tanker TF unloading at Sydney, with another on the way near New Zealand. Big supply convoy to Melbourne right behind that one. I've also kicked off a 50k supply convoy from Cape Town to Karachi.

ORIGINAL: Mundy
For all the fire in the sky, I've taken very few combat casualties. I wouldn't want to run any airplanes out of there, though. Supplies are at 235k, so that won't be a factor. I hate the thought of him pulling a lot of fuel out of there.

Carriers rounding Melbourne. I have a big tanker TF unloading at Sydney, with another on the way near New Zealand. Big supply convoy to Melbourne right behind that one. I've also kicked off a 50k supply convoy from Cape Town to Karachi.

The low casualties are almost certainly due to high fort levels in Suva. What level are those anyway?

Also, I think that bringing big tanker convoys to Sydney in your game is risky. With the Japanese running rampant in this part of the South Pacific I would make sure my convoys are going way far south. Like between the New Zealand main islands or south of New Zealand altogether. And then unloading at Melbourne or even ports to the west of it. Especially valuable fuel convoys. Better off wasting a little bit of extra time and fuel than risk having the entire fleet sunk by the KB.

ORIGINAL: Mundy

Yeah, I can see a starting point, but to infer the destination like this isn't convincing. Benkoelen is sorta a random location. Unless a massive radio display at Perth makes it that obvious.

It may seem that way, but if you're defending the Empire this is one of the most key spots. If as Japan you don't have something here and you see an Allied build-up, you would generally rush something in. Does your SIGINT tell you what he's got here now?

I'll have to check again.  Previously, it seemed to be weakly held.
 
My convoys are running way south, by New Zealand.  I can probably keep a LRCAP up while they're in range.  I think Suva's fort level was at 9.
 
His troops at Nadi seem to be in no hurry to move over.

ORIGINAL: Mundy
My convoys are running way south, by New Zealand.  I can probably keep a LRCAP up while they're in range.  I think Suva's fort level was at 9.

I had assumed they were somewhere between 4 and 6. A level 9 fort is world of difference. If they are actually level 9 you should try to reinforce it with some LCus. Even if those LCUs are doomed in the long run with level 9 forts, lots of supply and good terrain you could make the Japanese pay dearly with those reinforcements.

But how could he get any LCU there (Suva) now, with KB plus multiple enemy BB etc around? Air transport?

At this point, I'm not sure what he has parked around Suva right now.  besides PBYs at Pago, I only have my subs keeping tabs there.  The last two turns have only spotted a couple of SAGs.
 
 
If KB has departed, I'm extremely tempted to run a bunch of battleships and carriers there from Sydney.  I need absolute confirmation first.  I have 4 USN BBs in Australia right now, when I was building up for the Sumatra thing.  CF seems to have been pairing his battleships, so any battles, even against Yamato, would be interesting.
 
I'm one of those that's convinced, that in real life, Yamato would come out the loser versus the USN.  USN fire control, by comparison was just too good -- especially by 1944.  IJN, really wasn't.  It took them like an hour to finally start hitting CVEs at Samar, unlike the DDs/DEs, which were landing hit after hit while zigzagging.
 
Judging by my battleship ambush of KB earlier, I can't really bet the farm on my shooting.  I should probably conduct a Stalinist purge of my battlewagon captains.  I've always assumed they were competent by default, but I should double-check.
 
I'll see what I can do about Pago Pago to start with.  I can get a bunch of planes there fairly quickly form the hoards I have in New Zealand.  I'm trying to tread lightly in the process.
 
Maybe if the Intel Chimp would help me a bit...

Many BB skippers are positively awful in Naval Skill and Aggression. Like the sub skippers at game start, a lot of them got their commands by a$$ kissing and brown nosing.

[:D]
 
I'll start my Stalinist purge next turn.
 
I had issues with the early war subs -- especially the S boats.  I'm still not sure where the sweet spot is for subs with regard to aggression.  I'm sick of them charging the escorts rather than the soft/big stuff behind them.
 
USAAF squadrons have been abysmally led for a large part.  USN and USMC don't seem to have the leadership issue.

ORIGINAL: jwolf

But how could he get any LCU there (Suva) now, with KB plus multiple enemy BB etc around? Air transport?

I was thinking sub transport mostly. Ferry a bunch of rifle squads from Pago Pago. But only if the fort is actually level 9...

ORIGINAL: Mundy
Judging by my battleship ambush of KB earlier, I can't really bet the farm on my shooting.  I should probably conduct a Stalinist purge of my battlewagon captains.  I've always assumed they were competent by default, but I should double-check.

Eh. My cruiser captains also seem incompetent. I think one issue may be that by early 43 the Japanese ships have loads of combat experience from being on the offensive with few losses. On the other hand, many Allied ships have scant combat experience at this point. I presume that the ship captains would follow this pattern as well.

ORIGINAL: Mundy
I'll see what I can do about Pago Pago to start with.  I can get a bunch of planes there fairly quickly form the hoards I have in New Zealand.  I'm trying to tread lightly in the process.

Well, I don't think you want a bunch of planes there. You want the right planes there. You had a bunch of planes at Suva and as far as I can tell they contributed nothing at all to the battle besides targets for those experienced Japanese surface ships. So, which planes are you sending?