The Good The Bad & The Indifferent

[ny59giants]

Horn Island stacking limit is 35k.

[Canoerebel]

09/30/42

Bay of Bengal: Quiet at sea. In the air, John sends a few sizeable Tojo sweeps to Akyab, which the Allies seem to handle pretty well. I'm particularly interested, because I want to know if the F4F-4 is a viable component of the defense. On the day, my tallies show 32 Tojos downed - all a-2-a - to roughly 15 Allied fighters. That's probably skewed, but nevertheless encouraging. The proof is in the pudding - John's air campaign has become much more sporadic and ineffective in the past week (but he may simply be reorganizing for a new and big push). Ramree airfield is nearly repaired and transport ships are unloading a big AA battaliion and the last of a Gurkha battalion without any air raids (or any CAP) for the past two days.

Burma: Fairly small Allied sweeps and LRCAP over 21st IJA Mixed Bde. near Katha seem to get much the better of the IJAF CAP. Then, 7th Indian Div. shock attacks and boots the brigade from the hex with moderate losses. So the Japanese LOC to far Upper Burma is cut - John has roughly five units at Katha and Myitkina that are probably pretty small and weak. With the heavy fighting going on down south and so many IJA units already depleted, I doubt he can afford to send a big unit up this way. The Allies need PP to buy additional units - but I can't spend them unless the SWPac operations are scrubbed or delayed.

Pacific: John is fairly active in CenPac with small fast transport invasions of dot hexes and Canton Island (ungarrisoned). His subs around NZ and one just position SE of Hobart are picking up enough activity to really tickle John's suspicions. SigInt that 6th Div. is bound for Milne Bay (this division was last reported going to Kusaie and then Ponape). I would love to take on good Japanese divisions since so many have been mistreated already, but only if the circumstances are right. No way I'm going up agains the KB and a network of big airfields.

[Houtje]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

10/1/42

Burma: The Allies need PP to buy additional units - but I can't spend them unless the SWPac operations are scrubbed or delayed.

Given the fact that your A/C pools are probably rather low, and that it seems better to reinforce victory than uncertainty, would it not be better to postpone
the SWPac ops?

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel
I'm particularly interested, because I want to know if the F4F-4 is a viable component of the defense.

I believe that it *absolutely* is a viable component of the air defense. It's an "OK" plane versus the Tojo, but you don't have many other options. The most meaningful part of the F4F involvement here is its replacement pool and your ability to engage USN and USMC air.

"Sharing the load" in 1942 amongst all the Allied replacement pools is the order of the day. You can't just lean on the USAAF P-40s and P-39s to shoulder the burden. The Brits are 'brittle', so USN and USMC LBA are very important here.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel
No way I'm going up agains the KB and a network of big airfields.

You big baby. [:'(]

[Canoerebel]

Aircraft pools would be one reason to proceed with the operation rather than to stand down. At the moment, I think the Allies have gotten the best of Japan in the air. Maybe only temporarily, but its John that's stood down much of his airforce in Burma, allowing Allied bases to fully recover and damaged aircraft to come back online. But it was a tight thing and my pools are low, which means a new front - where the Allies could bring new squadrons - including the Australians - to bear would be advantageous. Right now John can concentrate in Burma, but an air war in New Guinea would divide his attention and needs.

But I am evaluating what to do now. The Allies have 2,200 PP in the bank. There are three potential uses - buy the restricted AnZac units that will permit a major invasion of New Caledonia (in tandem with the New Guinea operation or as the main show); to buy a new USA Div. at San Francisco that is prepping for Kusai (other troops at Pearl and Seattle are prepping for other islands in that area); or to buy out more Indian units to feed into Burma.

The latter carries the least risk and certainly much reward. The Japanese have suffered a long series of defeats in Burma. John's army is probably stretched pretty thin and so might be vulnerable. But even if he feeds more units into the meat grinder, that serves a big purpose.

Each of these options, in turns, requires other thoughts - do I move reinforcements and carriers from Oz to Bay of Bengal? If so, do I feed the units into Burma or do I invade Port Blair or even Sabang? Is it worth invading Cocos Island (probably not)?

Should I hold tight in Oz/New Guinea, "standing down" for a month or two, allowing the trail to "grow cold" so that John might then focus elsewhere, only to then have the Allies proceed?

Would a major invasion of the Marshalls or vicinity be worthwhile now (probably not).

At the moment, I feel like the uncertainty and the force moving is probably more productive than counterproductive. I think John is on edge and kind of jumping around even more than I am. He doesn't know where my carriers are, so that's got to have him looking just about everywhere. And while all this is going on in the Pacific, things continue to go very hot and favorable in Bay of Bengal and Burma. So I like the situation as it stands now and don't see any need to risk a carrier battle under unfavorable circumstances.

[Canoerebel]

10/1/42

Bay of Bengal: Still no signs of major enemy activity at sea. Valient and Dorsetshire - with light/moderate damage - made Colombo and will depart immediately for Capetown. That's three of my four damaged BBs that are safely out of the hornet's nest (unless something pops up prior to map's edge). Pensacola and Boise are both pretty heavily damaged - especially the former - and still have to make the run in to Colombo. Pensacola is just about to pass Trincomalee, so I'm worried about her.

Burma: Poultry Lad appears to be correct. The F4F-4 squadron at Akyab has taken minimal losses after two days of Tojo sweeps. She seems to work the mix well, as the Japanese have been taking considerably higher losses. I think the Wildcat, P-38F, P-40K, Hurricanes, and (to a lesser extent) the P-39 can do the job for now. The P-40E and the Kittyhawk do not seem to be able to stand toe-to-toe with the Tojo. Some Allies sweeps and LRCAP again chew on Japanese bombers and escorts. The air war has gone decidedly in favor of the Allies the past week, do to a variety of factors - luck, favorable ambushes, favorable ratios, etc. John might be reorganizing to wrest the advantage back.

Pacific: SigInt that 7th Div. is indeed at Attu (confirming SigInt from six weeks back). SigInt of several units including a CD force of some kind at Ndeni. An IJN sub snopes a transport TF at Hobart (there are a bunch there). Another TF SW of New Zealand pops up with 2/7 detection. This could be a Glen, a CS or possibly a carrier force. CVE Copahee is with a TF nearby. I transferred Copahee's SBDs to Hobart and placed her Wildcats on CAP. If the enemy force is a CS or small CVE force, Copahee might be able to handle it. If it's a major carrier force...well, ouch. The USN carriers are making good time in the journey from Tahiti. At this moment the operation is still on, but probably I will need a good KB sighting in the next week or two in order to pull the trigger. There's too much uncertainty right now and John is getting too much information to suit me.

[Capt. Harlock]

(to a lesser extent) the P-39 can do the job for now. The P-40E and the Kittyhawk do not seem to be able to stand toe-to-toe with the Tojo.

The P-39 is superior to the P-40E?? Something is rotten in the state of Denmark . . .

[Canoerebel]

No, it isn't superior. But in a big mix of Allied fighters, the P-39 at low levels can absorb some of the blows while the higher altitude, superior quality fighters do their thing. For that reason, I'm willing to leave the P-39 on the front lines - in moderate numbers - longer than the P-40E. The latter aircraft can still go toe-to-toe with the Zero and other fighters, so I try to use it to defend bases subject to carrier raids, etc.

[Canoerebel]

With the Japanese airforce standing down in Burma the past week, I've been able to use my two P-38F squadrons for other missions - some sweeps and some LRCAP. As many of you have noted (and probably as everyone out there already knows), they do very well in that roll. When John resumes his massive Tojo sweeps over Akyab, I'll have to use them defensively quite often (they are the backbone of fighter defense in India in late '42), but I am taking due note of their offensive potential.

The Japanese air force and the Allied air force squared off in close-quarters hot battles for the last month in Burma. The Allied pools were mostly drained, but to this point it appears that this was Antietam and the Allies are the Union forces - they hold the field and the enemy retreated. Japan has stood down largely for the last week. According to the Total Air Loss chart, Japan has lost 530+ Tojos, essentially all of those in September.

I think John is regrouping and will launch another sustained air offensive, but the Allied air forces performed credibly.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel
it appears that this was Antietam and the Allies are the Union forces - they hold the field and the enemy retreated.

Isn't there some Reb analogy that you could trot out here? Comparing your play to the Yankee army is somehow...discomforting...to your readers. [;)]

[Cribtop]

If John lost 530 Tojos, I'd say Verdun is a better analogy. [;)]

[denisonh]

Antietam? Sharpsburg is the proper name of that battle....[:D]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

With the Japanese airforce standing down in Burma the past week, I've been able to use my two P-38F squadrons for other missions - some sweeps and some LRCAP. As many of you have noted (and probably as everyone out there already knows), they do very well in that roll. When John resumes his massive Tojo sweeps over Akyab, I'll have to use them defensively quite often (they are the backbone of fighter defense in India in late '42), but I am taking due note of their offensive potential.

The Japanese air force and the Allied air force squared off in close-quarters hot battles for the last month in Burma. The Allied pools were mostly drained, but to this point it appears that this was Antietam and the Allies are the Union forces - they hold the field and the enemy retreated. Japan has stood down largely for the last week. According to the Total Air Loss chart, Japan has lost 530+ Tojos, essentially all of those in September.

I think John is regrouping and will launch another sustained air offensive, but the Allied air forces performed credibly.

[GreyJoy]

those of us who flew on the IL2Sturmovick (and successors) on full-switch servers know that the P-39, if piloted in the right way (using its great high speed rolling at low altitudes and keeping it fast), it's a great plane, far better than the P-40.
 
Essentially you have to pilot the P-39 like a FW190A. Keep the speed up, never turn, only roll, boom&zoom a bit and then rely on your great frontal firepower.
 
I remember how i could easily deal with the zeros in the zeke/vs/Wildcat server in the NG maps... Those zekes want you to follow them in a turn&burn fight where they excel...NEVER! keep on running straight...fire...don't turn...keep your speed and energy...just like in a 190...
 
I also had pretty good results using the field modified russion version of the P-39 against the Me109G-6 over Leningrad...
 
It's a great plane at low alt... believe me

[pws1225]

Geez GJ, that's a creepy picture you got there. Worse than the penguin, if that's possible.

[V I Lenin]

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

those of us who flew on the IL2Sturmovick (and successors) on full-switch servers know that the P-39, if piloted in the right way (using its great high speed rolling at low altitudes and keeping it fast), it's a great plane, far better than the P-40.

There's nothing more amusing in IL2 than taking the early model Ki-43s out against people who aren't very good at flying. "Haha, thats thing's so slow, it's usele - hey, wait, how are you behind - aargh, my pilot just got shot" in six seconds flat.

[Canoerebel]

10/2/42

Bay of Bengal: Free from enemy combat and carrier TFs. Tojo sweeps and bomber raids target undefended Ramree, doing "half damage." I'm leaning towards loading up the field for tomorrow's turn. Transports finished unloading 24 AA Brigade and the Gurkha unit. Ramree now has 700 AV, so it's "safe" from assault by land or sea, which is increasingly unlikely anyhow. Up in the Arabian Sea, John's armed merchant cruisers may be approaching Karachi. They had better watch out. The wicked Hermes TF (complete with USN SBD squadron) is on their trail!

Burma: The IJA division most advanced on the coastal road seems to be pulling back another hex - this move will bring it opposite Ramree. I'm moving forward additional Indian divisions on the possibility that PP will be available soon. "Rear guard" duty will be taken by a new Indian div. set to arrive at Madras in less than a week. Overall, it seems that John may be retiring just a bit in Burma. His line is extended and his army has taken a pretty stout thrashing over the past few weeks.

Pacific: CVs Hiyo and Junyo confirmed in the Gulf of Carpenteria. This is a major move - Hiyo was just involved in the Akyab operation. This might also explain the absence of a carrier raid to pick off all the vulnerable Allied ships damaged in that action. If so, drawing John's attention (unintentionally, of course) to the Coral Sea was worth it. The IJN carrier fighters provide CAP over Normanton, downing a dozen or so Hudsons that have been bombing that small base more or less every day for months. Somehow, John cobbled together enough intel to discern that the Allies were moving in force in this region. So, at the moment, I'm weighing whether there's a good way to use the Coral Sea as a major feint or in some other way. One possibility is to move in very obvious and massive force close up the eastern Oz coastline on the possibility of drawing a carrier attack while, at the same time, permitting a second and real amphibious force to approach New Caledonia. Not sure yet. Lots of options, none of which thrill me. The best thing may be to just make lots of noise while spending the PP to buy two or three big units in India that can then help in Burma.

[Canoerebel]

If John was hoping to orchestrate a big ambush of the Coral Sea operations, he wouldn't have disclosed the presence of his carriers. It's more likely that he's showing them to slow down the Allies while he scrambles to reinforce and bring up what he needs to defend. But since my carriers are still a good week away, I can't test that theory even if I wanted to.

[Canoerebel]

10/3/42

Arabian Sea: IJ armed merchant cruiser tangles with an Allied transport TF west of Karachi to no effect. The Hermes TF might draw within range tomorrow.

Bay of Bengal: Three IJN DDs raid Ramree, running across the stout Ching Lee CA force. One IJN destroyer takes damage. John sends more bombers and lots of Tojos to sweep Ramree, nearly shutting down the field. Allied AA - now beefed up considerably with the big unit from Ceylon - is downing alot of these bombers. (I elected not to transfer CAP to Ramree thinking that John might cross me up and hit Akyab hard.)

Burma: Some of John's bombers are targeting Allied LCU. I think John's main purpose is to slow their advance. If I'm right, this support the idea that John is concerned about his overall position in Burma. 18th UK Div. is loading at Diego for the trip to Cohcin. As noted before, I'm considering spending PP to buy some of the restricted Indian units. While the situation in the Pacific is fluid/uncertain/fraught with risk, the situation in Burma is pretty clear and promising.

Pacific: USN carriers are four days east of NZ's south cape. Probably 70% of the transports have arrived at Hobart or Sydney now, with most of the rest three to six days out (and one other not far from the carriers). While there has been the duly noted SigInt regarding Horn Island and Milne Bay, I'm still not seeing the kind of signals that would indicate a complete flooding of this zone. I read it that John is aware that the Allies are present in this vicinity in force, but isn't sure of the target. He's probably trying to figure out how to allocate forces to defend against a move against western Oz while also trying to protect New Guinea and New Caledonia.

[Capt. Harlock]

The Allied pools were mostly drained, but to this point it appears that this was Antietam and the Allies are the Union forces - they hold the field and the enemy retreated.

Hmm. Since Antietam was only a one-day battle, I would have been more inclined to describe this as Chancellorsville, with the Allies as the Confederates. (The Northerners retreated when they didn't really have to.)