Fighting the Italian Samurai Cantona2(a) vs Gen.Hoepner(j)

[cantona2]

I wish!!![:D]

[cantona2]

Offices of Intelligence Section, South East Asia HQ, Calcutta. 11:43

The situation map had just been updated with the latest intercepts and recon photo analysis. The intelligence people were happy with both the identification of the enemies units and their dispositions. Two full infantry divisons and a brigade formed the main assualt units. A mortar brigade and a mountain artillery regiment supported them. The remnants of two parachute regiments were currently rotting in the jungle and being suppressed by fighters based in China. In Rangoon a base force unit had been identified through its requests for supplies, food and construction material. Their job done the information was now passed up the channels to the C-in-C who would then decide the strategy to defend India. To the intelligence boys it seemed that the 3 divisions in the area would soon be seeing action.



Elsewhere in the theatre the Ameircal Division finished landing at Noumea, NC now has roughly about 800 AVs on it. A convoy with Wildcats is a few days out and a battle group led by the battleship Colorado is also about a week out.

The bombardment run on Port Blair will go ahead. The weather forecast is still for Thunderstorms so a hit on the base at night and a quick turn about should happen while the air base at Rangoon is socked in by rain. Fortune favours the bold but we all know she is a fickle mistress!

[Fishbed]

Fortune favours the bold

Who dares Wins!

[cantona2]

Captain Halfhide received the latest weather reports from his met officer and was not happy. After a whole week of thunderstorms and rain the forecast for tomorrow was clear and sunny. His battleship, the Resolution, commanded a battle group that also included the crusiers Dorsertshire, Cornwall, Capetown and Birmingham as well as the Dutch ship Sumatra. They had been on their way to shell paratroopers that had occupied Port Blair in the Andaman Islands. For days the weather had kept the Japanese airfields in the Rangoon region quiet. But this break in the weather would make his task force, and with it a big part of the Royal Navy's punch in the region, vulnerable to aerial torpedo attack. He ordered his signallers to tell the fleet to abandon the mission and to head for Colombo. His disppointment was mirrored by the other captians in the fleet as they were eager to train their guns on the Japs.

Later on in the day, intelligence officers at Clacutta had signalled the Resoultion after the latest recon had been analysed. The weather had cleared faster than expected and, it was clear from the latest photos, that the Japanese were running Betty squadrons from Rangoon. A Hudson from No 1 Squadron had taken the pictures early in the morning. It showed bombers on the landing strip ready to take off. What a pity that Chittagong and Dacca were still socked in! Still Halfhide felt justified in withdrawing his ships. On the gun positions on all of the ships in his taks force, sharp eyes worryingly scanned the clear, blue sky that all of a sudden had taken a more meancing tone...

[cantona2]

Its all happening in the skies over Burma. Two wellingtons lost, pilots baled out and behind our lines too and his divisions take a pounding.
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Rangoon , at 29,33
 
 
Allied aircraft
Blenheim IF x 5
 
 
No Allied losses
 
Aircraft Attacking:
 5 x Blenheim IF bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Meiktila , at 32,31
 
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6
 
No Japanese losses
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Meiktila , at 32,31
 
Japanese aircraft
Ki-15 Babs x 1
 
No Japanese losses
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 21st Mixed Brigade, at 31,31
 
 
Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 11
Hudson I x 12
 
 
No Allied losses
 
Japanese ground losses:
75 casualties reported
Guns lost 1[:D]
 
Aircraft Attacking:
 3 x Blenheim IV bombing at 8000 feet
 9 x Hudson I bombing at 8000 feet
 8 x Blenheim IV bombing at 8000 feet
 3 x Hudson I bombing at 8000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 21st Division, at 32,31
 
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 11
 
Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 3
Wellington III x 3
B-17D Fortress x 3
 
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 damaged
 
Allied aircraft losses
Wellington III: 1 destroyed[:@], 1 damaged
B-17D Fortress: 2 damaged
 
Japanese ground losses:
43 casualties reported
Guns lost 1[:D]
 
Aircraft Attacking:
 3 x Blenheim IV bombing at 8000 feet
 3 x B-17D Fortress bombing at 12000 feet
 2 x Wellington III bombing at 8000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 5th Division, at 32,31
 
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 11
 
Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 6
Wellington III x 5
B-17D Fortress x 7
 
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 damaged
 
Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IV: 1 damaged
Wellington III: 1 damaged
B-17D Fortress: 4 damaged
 
Japanese ground losses:
154 casualties reported
Guns lost 1[:D]
 
Aircraft Attacking:
 7 x B-17D Fortress bombing at 12000 feet
 6 x Blenheim IV bombing at 8000 feet
 5 x Wellington III bombing at 8000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Fishbed]

Very good...

About your bombardement run, and involving big guns, again I see no point in risking a BB so early if no invasion follows on. A cruiser TF is just enough right now in my opinion [:)]

[cantona2]

Fishbed
 
Called the bombardment run off as the weather cleared over Rangoon. I was hoping as transport convoy would be in or around Port Blair but not luck either. Hes going to have to resupply his paras there sooner rather than later. I have British subs staking out the place and i had mined it twice before its fall so hopefully any resupply might cause him to lose a ship or two.

[cantona2]

18th May 1942.

Meiktila fell after an overwhelming assault by two Japanese Divisions. The brave Brigades deatiled to its defence staunchly held their ground until Operation Resolve was ordered. One Brigade held its lines while the other withdrew its positions and then covered the formers retreat, the Japanese charge into the city itself allowed this to happen as the urban terrain provided excelletn cover and kept casualties low. It also left the retreat to Mandalay clear.

The plan then called for one brigade, or in this case what was left it, to dig in on the Meiktila-Mandalay highway while the other Brigade, that was still intact and in good combat order, withdrew to take up preprepared defences to the south-west of Mandaly.

In the air the RAF bravely flew into the teeth of Oscars flying over Meiktila and lost 3 Blenheims and 2 Hudsons. Though the bombers put a virtual curtain of defensive fire the Japanese fighters had a field day as the AVG escort from Mandalay only appeared after the bombers began to head home. The target was bombed but the effectiveness of the raid was minimal with their bombs falling on the rear echelons of the 21st Mixed Brigade entering Meiktila from the West.

Elsewhere in the theatre, SS Dolphin patrolling around Johnston Island intercepted radio signals from the Island notifying the HQ at Kwajelein of the sinking of AK Tatsuharu Maru after striking a mine a few days ago. It seems that the mining of his outposts is reaping its just reward. SS KVII, flotation damage down from 52 to 47, evaded an ASW task force made up of APD's outside Palembang. It is enroute to Colombo for extensive repair. It also detected a CV task force steaming south, probably the carreirs that recently supported the Rangoon operation.

[cantona2]

Japanese recon planes have been spotted over Mandalay and Taung Gyi. Japanese divisions are on the Meiktila-Mandalay road and i expected my blocking force to be pushed off the highway tomorrow. About 200 AVs in Mandalay now, not enough to even start thinking of stopping a two division assault, but its buying time for redeployments in India.

In China two divisions will shock attack an armoured regiment that sits astride the Nanning-Liuchow railway. A further two corps are slowly marching to the area as japanese troops are being observed approaching the area.

Submarines have started ferrying supplies from Tarakan to Cagayan, where Phillipine forces keep hanging on using the mountainous terrain to their advantage. There is no hope of relief or victory but certainly the trickle of supplies is designed to allow them to resist as long as possible. Im wondering why Tarakan, Cagayan, the islands in the Sulu Sea, Northern Sumatra and eastern and southern Borneo (except Bailkpapan) havnt been invaded yet. I've sunk about 57 transports, AK's and AP's, and maybe its that.

[Alfred]

You might care to start considering whether the garrison at Lashio should be withdrawn to Mandalay before the enemy gets to Mandalay.  You don't want the Lashio troops to be forced to retreat back to Myitkyina using the trail whilst the enemy could double back from Lashio to Myikkyina (via Mandalay) using the much quicker rail network.
 
Alfred

[cantona2]

Future Plans
 
Im thinking of launching a counter attack, albeitly of a limited nature in the Line Islands, Christmas Island first, then Palmyra. In my game vs Local Yokel a June 42 attack against Tarawa messed up primarily because of a lack of CAP on the second day of the landings allowing Betties a free run at the transports. Though Palmyra is a size 4 AF if i use all US Cv's, excpet Yorktown, will it be enough to suppress Palmyra. The projected date is mid june 42 when i can replace Devastators for Avengers. The US Pacific Fleet is fully complete and operational and could count with Big E, Lady Lex, Wasp and Hornet, as well as the CVE Long Island to support the landings. I could possibly use the 2nd Marine Division and a couple of RCT's and Engineer and Base Forces as well. Picket ships sailing close to Christmas Island have not been detected by the planes stationed there and its making me think that its a viable target, yet my experience vs Local Yokel makes me think twice and not give in to my instincts and lauch the attack.
 
Pros: Make GH think twice of futher expansion if i can make him think a push is on in the Central Pacific. Lines to Oz will be shortened. Will give me a base closer to my shipping lanes and be able to base ASW ships there. Springboard for assult on Palmyra. Possible to have a sub base there closer to Japanese targets.
 
Cons: Palmyra very close, within range of LBA. Location of KB not known (My hunch is that it will soon appear in Northern Oz). Proximity of Kwajelein means he can probably react very quickly. His subs in the area could make a strike on my ships.
 
Any thoughts?

[FeurerKrieg]

Hi Cantona - my 2 cents!

As to attacking Line Islands, a couple points -

Unless you have a lot of LBA and have reinforced some of those islands (Pago Pago, Suva, Noumea, Cook Islands, etc), an attack in the Line Islands isn't going to deter more southward movement - unless of course GH's intends to try and hold those islands for a long time

It does of course help move along the timeline for the Allied crawl across the Pacific, but may also possible for GH to counterattack and kill the units you use there.

I think I'd wait until you are positive of where KB is and that you can fly in enough LBA to prevent any counterattack. If you can do that now, then great, otherwise I'd wait a bit longer.

Plus- In CHS 160 Bettys can leak through Allied cap and one or two torps in a CV is all is takes to ruin the party for you for the rest of 1942.

[Alfred]

I wouldn't factor CVE Long Island into any offensive plans.  It is much too weak a platform, better to use it to ferry planes.
 
Alfred

[cantona2]

Sound advice guys thanks.

What about a direct assault on Johnston Island that i can soften up with LBA and have good recon over? Would Feurer's concerns also apply to JI? Ive not doubt that GH has effectively reinforced JI so a larger hammer would be needed here than at Christmas Island. In terms of the Long Island, my thinking was more of a platform for Wildcats simply to fly CAP over transports leaving the carrier fighters to fly the CAP over the flat-tops and to escort the bombers.

[String]

ORIGINAL: cantona2

Sound advice guys thanks.

What about a direct assault on Johnston Island that i can soften up with LBA and have good recon over? Would Feurer's concerns also apply to JI? Ive not doubt that GH has effectively reinforced JI so a larger hammer would be needed here than at Christmas Island. In terms ov the Long Island, my think was more of a platform for Wildcats simply to fly CAP over transports leaving the carrier fighters to fly the CAP over the flat-tops and to escort the bombers.

Well you could prep the assault but no attacks before you see the whole of KB half a world away.

[cantona2]

Thanks for contributing String. Last siting of his carriers were near Singapore after the Rangoon invasion but not the whole of the KB.

[cantona2]

21st Division gets hit by air again.
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 21st Division, at 33,30
 
 
Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 19
Wellington III x 4
B-17D Fortress x 9
 
 
Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IV: 1 damaged
B-17D Fortress: 1 damaged
 
Japanese ground losses:
73 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
 
Aircraft Attacking:
 6 x B-17D Fortress bombing at 12000 feet
 3 x Blenheim IV bombing at 3000 feet
 9 x Blenheim IV bombing at 8000 feet
 4 x Wellington III bombing at 8000 feet
 4 x Blenheim IV bombing at 3000 feet
 3 x B-17D Fortress bombing at 12000 feet
 3 x Blenheim IV bombing at 8000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[cantona2]

In Burma the Japanese advance continues though its pace has somewhat slowed. the 96th Chinese Division, formely at Lashio is enroute to Mandalay to reinforce the troops there. There are now only fighters based in Burmese airfeilds, all LBA is now in India. Once we get into June several units will be upgrading to Liberator III's for extra range. Meiktila now has 35 enemy fighters based there and our own fighters in Mandalay are set on 50% escort and 50% CAP should he try and send some bombers overhead. Two more Chinese divisions are enroute to reinforce Lashio in order to keep the Burma road open.

Elsewhere the movement of troops and supplies continues. Ive based a sqaudron of Kingfishers in Luganville and dumping more supplies into Noumea and Suva. Medium bombers are also enroute and i have about 60 heavies in Australia ready to be deployed where necessary.

Two questions regarding AB's Map though,

1) Is Ichang an urban hex?

2) Can Thursady Island be reached by land or only by sea?

[cantona2]

The day, however goes to Commander Hull and the SS Finback at Truk where they torpedoed one transport and shelled another with barely a scratch returned [:D].



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Truk at 66,78

Japanese Ships
AK Amakasu Maru #1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Finback

Sub attack near Truk at 66,78

Japanese Ships
AK Taga Maru, Shell hits 3, on fire

Allied Ships
SS Finback, hits 1


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

[FeurerKrieg]

ORIGINAL: cantona2



1) Is Ichang an urban hex?
I don't think so - press '1' to find out.


2) Can Thursady Island be reached by land or only by sea?
Can't be reached by land, only by sea