Op order day 10
A careful look at imperial re inforcement plan has forced a re think.
We do not have enough troops for a PM grab at the moment, with only 1 regiment due in the next 30 days!!!!
New orders for TF 3, 8, 13, and 1.
take out Gilli gilli
Then consolidate by taking dobodura, tf 10, while carriers are in the area
A TF 13 will then fast transport troops to Buna
We have taken Lunga and will begin consolidating there
TF 12 is dissolved, with the loss of AV kamikawa maru, let us never speak of that stupidity again!!!:mad:
Beer gives you the wobblies
Op order day 10
Big seas, Fast ships, life tastes better with salt
op order day 11
Time to take stock
Combined fleet ops continue well. Tulgia has now been occupied
TF 2,9,6,7,15 will complete unloading at lunga and Tulgia, a good number of troops are ashore.
To the west 8th army has had to already alter plans.
Today a lighting attack will be launched, TF 3 with 144 reg will invade Gilli gilli, TF1 (2cv, 1cvl) will provide close support, and TF 8 will provide surface support.
TF 13 will assume a fast transport role and using a detachment of garrison troops sieze buna.
TF 10 will resume passage to dobadura
11th airfleet will attrit PM airforce with around the clock bombing
If all goes well, this will complete our 1st stage of operations.
If the enemy CVs do not appear, once transports have withdrawn, I intend to actively seek them out near lunganville.
We are calling for more troops
Staff are looking at using 144th regiment after the PM attack for a quick flank attack at PM.
PS Beer is good
Combined fleet ops continue well. Tulgia has now been occupied
TF 2,9,6,7,15 will complete unloading at lunga and Tulgia, a good number of troops are ashore.
To the west 8th army has had to already alter plans.
Today a lighting attack will be launched, TF 3 with 144 reg will invade Gilli gilli, TF1 (2cv, 1cvl) will provide close support, and TF 8 will provide surface support.
TF 13 will assume a fast transport role and using a detachment of garrison troops sieze buna.
TF 10 will resume passage to dobadura
11th airfleet will attrit PM airforce with around the clock bombing
If all goes well, this will complete our 1st stage of operations.
If the enemy CVs do not appear, once transports have withdrawn, I intend to actively seek them out near lunganville.
We are calling for more troops
Staff are looking at using 144th regiment after the PM attack for a quick flank attack at PM.
PS Beer is good
Big seas, Fast ships, life tastes better with salt
I know my place
I dont think I am worthy Oh mighty warrior Luskan!:D
Big seas, Fast ships, life tastes better with salt
Op order day 12
Op order day 12
The invasion proper of Gilli Gilli has begun.
Enemy air has caused some disruption to our CA force in the area.
Our CVs are in position, and providing cover.
11th air fleet are scoring many kills over PM, the pressure increases.
I expect 4 days of operations , then general withdrawel until re inforcements arrive.
The plan to go CV hunting is being intensly debated, I feel the real enemy is the US fleet, I may temporarily retire to recieve more AC, then go hunting.
We will see.
The invasion proper of Gilli Gilli has begun.
Enemy air has caused some disruption to our CA force in the area.
Our CVs are in position, and providing cover.
11th air fleet are scoring many kills over PM, the pressure increases.
I expect 4 days of operations , then general withdrawel until re inforcements arrive.
The plan to go CV hunting is being intensly debated, I feel the real enemy is the US fleet, I may temporarily retire to recieve more AC, then go hunting.
We will see.
Big seas, Fast ships, life tastes better with salt
day 13
Op order day 13
Combined fleet, TF 2,9,6,,7, continue to consolidate lunga.
( a great source of worry as a surface strike would be very costly)
8th army has begun the invasion of PM proper, troops landing at Gilli, Gilli and Buna (TF 1, 8, 13, 3 and 10 )
11th air fleet performs well.
All orders remain in force
I cant help thinking that I was not aggressive enough, compared to Blacksunshine1941, wobbly is a lamb. If id gone at him like I have Blacksunshine, I think PM might have been mine already.
having only 2 regiments in the 1st 30 days is really putting a brake on my intentions
Personally Im a get PM the 1st week man!
Anyone with any thoughts?
Combined fleet, TF 2,9,6,,7, continue to consolidate lunga.
( a great source of worry as a surface strike would be very costly)
8th army has begun the invasion of PM proper, troops landing at Gilli, Gilli and Buna (TF 1, 8, 13, 3 and 10 )
11th air fleet performs well.
All orders remain in force
I cant help thinking that I was not aggressive enough, compared to Blacksunshine1941, wobbly is a lamb. If id gone at him like I have Blacksunshine, I think PM might have been mine already.
having only 2 regiments in the 1st 30 days is really putting a brake on my intentions
Personally Im a get PM the 1st week man!
Anyone with any thoughts?
Big seas, Fast ships, life tastes better with salt
Well - taking PM is always satisfying, especially if you get 250 aircraft on the ground (fond memories). But if you take PM and Irau, suddenly your opponent has a moat of breathing space - and anything his planes spot in that neutral zone he'll be ready for. It means that both sides are further apart and the defender always has the advantage - which isn't really in your best interest if you're trying to cripple him for the long defending game.
I'd want my opponent to still have PM - to force him to try and supply it through 42 - to try and maintain an airbase there etc. All those transport missions - all those targets the USN is ill equipped to protect!!!!
Why not let him have it (and if it works for you, maybe I'll be gutsy enough to try it sometime myself!).
Fell like being a guinea pig? Too late if your troops are on the beach I guess.
I'd want my opponent to still have PM - to force him to try and supply it through 42 - to try and maintain an airbase there etc. All those transport missions - all those targets the USN is ill equipped to protect!!!!
Why not let him have it (and if it works for you, maybe I'll be gutsy enough to try it sometime myself!).
Fell like being a guinea pig? Too late if your troops are on the beach I guess.
With dancing Bananas and Storm Troopers who needs BBs?
herbieh,
Unless you have more troops in your 8th army than you listed earlier you are not strong enough to try an early grab at PM.
Read my AAR with Attack Condor. I invaded with 4 regiments(isn't var reinforcements great!:D ) plus a SNLF. He airlifted in another whole regiment of the 7th as the invasion was underway. The support troops also gave the equivalent of another whole regiment. The best odds I could get before his 2nd regiment got up to strength was 1:1. After best I got was 0:1. Part of that was I didn't have all the right HQ with me but I thought I would still get 2:1 odds. Do a few days of attacks to wear down the fort level and then a shock attack I thought. I got the fort level down then did the big attack and got creamed.
I contested the airlift but even with rotating zero squadrons to keep fresh I couldn't stop him. I would cause 4-5 aborts but still ~1000 fresh troops got in every turn. If Wobbly really wants to contest PM your available forces are not enough.
In earlier versions the early PM grab worked fine. With 2.3 I am not so sure. I think I will eventually take it after I get reinforcements but it will be a long drawn out bloody mess.
I feel PM is still a vital early key for the IJN. Until you take it Rabaul is in danger. Once Wobbly gets the 2 US divisions PM will get a full division+. Then you will have a real headache taking it. Taking PM makes the whole moat between PNG and Rabal safe for you to build up in depth. Don't take PM and any base within B17 range gets shut down in 1 turn. Also with PM in your hands you can forward base your CVs for fast reaction. If you don't then basing at Rabaul or Shortlands is risky. You don't have to put much into PM just deny it to the USN player.
So I 'm with you herbieh take PM as fast as you can. It just probably can't be the first week.
Cheers,
Quark
Unless you have more troops in your 8th army than you listed earlier you are not strong enough to try an early grab at PM.
Read my AAR with Attack Condor. I invaded with 4 regiments(isn't var reinforcements great!:D ) plus a SNLF. He airlifted in another whole regiment of the 7th as the invasion was underway. The support troops also gave the equivalent of another whole regiment. The best odds I could get before his 2nd regiment got up to strength was 1:1. After best I got was 0:1. Part of that was I didn't have all the right HQ with me but I thought I would still get 2:1 odds. Do a few days of attacks to wear down the fort level and then a shock attack I thought. I got the fort level down then did the big attack and got creamed.
I contested the airlift but even with rotating zero squadrons to keep fresh I couldn't stop him. I would cause 4-5 aborts but still ~1000 fresh troops got in every turn. If Wobbly really wants to contest PM your available forces are not enough.
In earlier versions the early PM grab worked fine. With 2.3 I am not so sure. I think I will eventually take it after I get reinforcements but it will be a long drawn out bloody mess.
I feel PM is still a vital early key for the IJN. Until you take it Rabaul is in danger. Once Wobbly gets the 2 US divisions PM will get a full division+. Then you will have a real headache taking it. Taking PM makes the whole moat between PNG and Rabal safe for you to build up in depth. Don't take PM and any base within B17 range gets shut down in 1 turn. Also with PM in your hands you can forward base your CVs for fast reaction. If you don't then basing at Rabaul or Shortlands is risky. You don't have to put much into PM just deny it to the USN player.
So I 'm with you herbieh take PM as fast as you can. It just probably can't be the first week.
Cheers,
Quark
If you want to stop the airlifting, stick 4 or 5 BBs and 6+CAs (and as many CLs and Dds as will fit) into a bombardment TF.
With that many capitol ships it won't be much good against smaller, better proportioned enemy surface combat TFs, but will either a: murder some transports, but more importantly b: shut the airfield and blow some transports up.
Works much better than cap over PM.
With that many capitol ships it won't be much good against smaller, better proportioned enemy surface combat TFs, but will either a: murder some transports, but more importantly b: shut the airfield and blow some transports up.
Works much better than cap over PM.
With dancing Bananas and Storm Troopers who needs BBs?
I did hit PM with as many CAs as I could get. Repeatedly. However my bombardment runs got interupted just enough by sub attacks etc to allow him to keep the field open. One drawback of an early push is no BBs:( .
But since the transports are based at Cairns and Cooktown why would the bombardment destroy any? I got several of his planes that based at PM but never a PBY or C47 flying in.
Quark
But since the transports are based at Cairns and Cooktown why would the bombardment destroy any? I got several of his planes that based at PM but never a PBY or C47 flying in.
Quark
op order day 14
thanks for the advice guys, Im re assessing my opinion of wobbly, he is good.
I have a real fight on my hands, and PM will have to wait, I agree, you need a lot of troops, and I havent yet got near enough. In another game Ive got 2 regiments stranded at PM gates busy wasting away.
So its the attrit the US navy I think strategy
Op order day 14
we land at Gilli Gilli, a small surface force of 4 dds was valiantly held off by our small escorts. Our troops attack tomorrow
Buna is ours
I see his kanga force on the move, TF 13 will emergency lift troops 8th garrison to Nassua bay.
A new tf-15, is attached to combined fleet, a small force will be sent to rennell island.
I aint happy with my performance so far, still, onwards we go
Attack!!!!
I have a real fight on my hands, and PM will have to wait, I agree, you need a lot of troops, and I havent yet got near enough. In another game Ive got 2 regiments stranded at PM gates busy wasting away.
So its the attrit the US navy I think strategy
Op order day 14
we land at Gilli Gilli, a small surface force of 4 dds was valiantly held off by our small escorts. Our troops attack tomorrow
Buna is ours
I see his kanga force on the move, TF 13 will emergency lift troops 8th garrison to Nassua bay.
A new tf-15, is attached to combined fleet, a small force will be sent to rennell island.
I aint happy with my performance so far, still, onwards we go
Attack!!!!
Big seas, Fast ships, life tastes better with salt
op order day 15
Op order day 15
We have captured Gilli gilli, a hammer to crack an egg
The plan to cover unloading at gilli gilli, and then dobudura remains.
Lots of storms, tired ships and aircrews.
we will go CV hunting, but delay PM invasion until more troops arrive (and ships)
Im reconning kanga force, as Im very worried that they have been air reinforced.
We have captured Gilli gilli, a hammer to crack an egg
The plan to cover unloading at gilli gilli, and then dobudura remains.
Lots of storms, tired ships and aircrews.
we will go CV hunting, but delay PM invasion until more troops arrive (and ships)
Im reconning kanga force, as Im very worried that they have been air reinforced.
Big seas, Fast ships, life tastes better with salt
bloody variable reinforcement!
Op order day 16
Unloading at GG continues
IT is planned to reload144 reg and return it to rabual in the next few days
CVs remain providing cover
Our CAs are very tired, I want them withdrawn for awhile
8th naval garrison landed at nassua bay, and will attack wau
Invasion of dobodura will commence shortly
Enemy is reinforcing PM, a fast transport run was hit by our submarines.
The war continues
Unloading at GG continues
IT is planned to reload144 reg and return it to rabual in the next few days
CVs remain providing cover
Our CAs are very tired, I want them withdrawn for awhile
8th naval garrison landed at nassua bay, and will attack wau
Invasion of dobodura will commence shortly
Enemy is reinforcing PM, a fast transport run was hit by our submarines.
The war continues
Big seas, Fast ships, life tastes better with salt
day17
All contiues to plan- the ever changing plan:rolleyes:
Some naval reinforcements begin to arrive, allowing regular convoys to be set up for our outer bases.No naval forces yet, or army or air due for another month.
144 regiment begins reloading.
we are wondering , what is happening with kanga force?
Some naval reinforcements begin to arrive, allowing regular convoys to be set up for our outer bases.No naval forces yet, or army or air due for another month.
144 regiment begins reloading.
we are wondering , what is happening with kanga force?
Big seas, Fast ships, life tastes better with salt
A good day
op order day 18
TF33 is formed at truck, it will load 170th regiment(21st ind ) and 4th regiment(2nd division)
combined with 144th regiment this will be the core of the PM invasion force, probably not enough troops, definately not if wobbly is stuffing PM. however there doesnt seem to be many ships running into PM(or my recon is crap), so we will give it a shot
On other fronts 11th air fleet had a good day, a fighter sweep claimed 8 fighters down.
Lea is getting low on supplies, so TF34 is formed at truk, and will try to run in
TF10 has been ordered to commence its run into dobadura
TF 1 is providing lrcap for this and the reloading at GG.
Fatigue is a real balancing act.
I must remember not to panic!
Our sneak attack approaches Rennel island.
TF33 is formed at truck, it will load 170th regiment(21st ind ) and 4th regiment(2nd division)
combined with 144th regiment this will be the core of the PM invasion force, probably not enough troops, definately not if wobbly is stuffing PM. however there doesnt seem to be many ships running into PM(or my recon is crap), so we will give it a shot
On other fronts 11th air fleet had a good day, a fighter sweep claimed 8 fighters down.
Lea is getting low on supplies, so TF34 is formed at truk, and will try to run in
TF10 has been ordered to commence its run into dobadura
TF 1 is providing lrcap for this and the reloading at GG.
Fatigue is a real balancing act.
I must remember not to panic!
Our sneak attack approaches Rennel island.
Big seas, Fast ships, life tastes better with salt
Op order day 19
little to report, we land at Rennell Island, and 144 regiment gets away from GG
We cover the invasion of Dobadura
Phase one nears completion
Plans are underway for phase 2,
more to come
The US navy remains conspicously absent:D
We cover the invasion of Dobadura
Phase one nears completion
Plans are underway for phase 2,
more to come
The US navy remains conspicously absent:D
Big seas, Fast ships, life tastes better with salt
Day20
All remains disturbingly quiet.
we capture Rennel island and begin to occupy naru
Some original TFs(no7) return to truck, We will use a regiment of 2nd division just arrived for the PM force.
144 regiment escapes, and Dobodura forces hit the beach
Most disturbingly of all, his LBA exposes there teeth-ouch, Buna smarts.
Anyway, the plan to consolidate recently won gains continues.
Then with sufficient troops mustered, another go at PM
we capture Rennel island and begin to occupy naru
Some original TFs(no7) return to truck, We will use a regiment of 2nd division just arrived for the PM force.
144 regiment escapes, and Dobodura forces hit the beach
Most disturbingly of all, his LBA exposes there teeth-ouch, Buna smarts.
Anyway, the plan to consolidate recently won gains continues.
Then with sufficient troops mustered, another go at PM
Big seas, Fast ships, life tastes better with salt
Make sure you take the beach next to PM before the final push. Doesn't have to be with much - just a gsn or a recon force. Even a sub-landed sub unit will do - just means that if any allied troops escape the slaughter at PM - they get obliterated - or maybe retreat up the kokoda trail as long as Kanga has an airbase to supply from. Both are attractive results (otherwise they get to that beach and USN subs and FTs shuttle them home etc.)
With dancing Bananas and Storm Troopers who needs BBs?
Day 21
thats confidence for you!, when you capture PM. with only 3 scattered regiments its going to be a battle.
Actually I like to leave the troops stranded, good experience gainers for the new bombers as they arrive.
Nothing to report today, we too are having lots of thunderstorms. Having served in the area, I think the level of occurance feels right, and I like them, you can time invasion fleets if you are lucky.
We capture Dobadura, and Naru.
Now to build airfields, and "zero " PM to death.
Im resting the surface fleet, and now have 2 new carriers en route.
I plan a diversion towards Lunganville, and its all for PM.
Actually I like to leave the troops stranded, good experience gainers for the new bombers as they arrive.
Nothing to report today, we too are having lots of thunderstorms. Having served in the area, I think the level of occurance feels right, and I like them, you can time invasion fleets if you are lucky.
We capture Dobadura, and Naru.
Now to build airfields, and "zero " PM to death.
Im resting the surface fleet, and now have 2 new carriers en route.
I plan a diversion towards Lunganville, and its all for PM.
Big seas, Fast ships, life tastes better with salt
Oh Oh
Day 22
major panic at 8th Army HQ
A large infantry force is approaching Lea from the mountains.
How it is being supplied is beyond me, but it advances
I have viewed the troop situation and there is very little to send, so I bite the bullet, we will send NOTHING.
We Must now capture PM, and cut this snake of at its lair.
Lae must fight with what it has got.
I hope that our forces landed at Nassua bay will be undiscovered, and erupt in Kanga forces rear, at Wau. Time will tell.
In the meantime combined fleet continues to gather near rabual
TF1 was yesterday attacked, its pilots ALL Resting, fortunately the LBA missed. The carriers are withdrawn, remaining ships at Dobodura will be sacrificed, all that matters is that the troops get ashore, and get that airfield built.
Wobbly is a tricky character!
major panic at 8th Army HQ
A large infantry force is approaching Lea from the mountains.
How it is being supplied is beyond me, but it advances
I have viewed the troop situation and there is very little to send, so I bite the bullet, we will send NOTHING.
We Must now capture PM, and cut this snake of at its lair.
Lae must fight with what it has got.
I hope that our forces landed at Nassua bay will be undiscovered, and erupt in Kanga forces rear, at Wau. Time will tell.
In the meantime combined fleet continues to gather near rabual
TF1 was yesterday attacked, its pilots ALL Resting, fortunately the LBA missed. The carriers are withdrawn, remaining ships at Dobodura will be sacrificed, all that matters is that the troops get ashore, and get that airfield built.
Wobbly is a tricky character!
Big seas, Fast ships, life tastes better with salt